tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72090867585385853172017-09-24T01:39:36.149-07:00A Novel(T) Quilting JourneyDee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-57670952915817131962017-07-04T13:03:00.002-07:002017-07-04T13:03:19.451-07:00Border decisions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A good border can really add to a quilt. &nbsp;And a bad one can just make it Eh. &nbsp;I thought I'd share a couple of quilts where I struggled with what to do on the borders.<br /><br />This quilt started out as a baby quilt, but my daughter and I liked it so much I decided to make it bigger and keep it. &nbsp;I talk about it in the AZ retreat post.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0fiP_Cgu0s/WVvZgpwMmgI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/FKQNI1zfNDoCx903Uk9N6YGv2Tjy5Qi9ACKgBGAs/s1600/20170326_222644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1162" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0fiP_Cgu0s/WVvZgpwMmgI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/FKQNI1zfNDoCx903Uk9N6YGv2Tjy5Qi9ACKgBGAs/s320/20170326_222644.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br />I wanted to add a border but could decide on one that worked well with the center. &nbsp;It is such a dramatic design, I wanted something that set it off. &nbsp;I tried a solid black to match the sashing, but that looked strange, like it was floating. &nbsp;Then I did this pieced border. &nbsp;In my head it looked great, but in person? &nbsp;Yuck, it didn't add anything at all and even seemed distracting. &nbsp;And so I ripped it off. &nbsp;I think I'll just stay with the narrow black, though it will make quilting a bit harder. &nbsp;I'll have to be especially careful to keep it square on the quilting frame or it will get trimmed off when I square up.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SIOhM9Znzw/WVvZvWbkBcI/AAAAAAAAEbU/yg1cN5-CXB4Htas6hY2yyEe30zQMOCXqwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170326_160419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1262" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SIOhM9Znzw/WVvZvWbkBcI/AAAAAAAAEbU/yg1cN5-CXB4Htas6hY2yyEe30zQMOCXqwCKgBGAs/s320/20170326_160419.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />This quilt I also tried a solid border - again not good. &nbsp;It just didn't add much.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLzh1tres2s/WVvaJ67NnzI/AAAAAAAAEbY/AExDcK2N1TcZSR6tEvAgym3ZCMSU6HGrwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170317_232537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLzh1tres2s/WVvaJ67NnzI/AAAAAAAAEbY/AExDcK2N1TcZSR6tEvAgym3ZCMSU6HGrwCKgBGAs/s320/20170317_232537.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I tried a pieced border again. &nbsp;This time I think it works. The quilt itself feels scrappy and the border goes well with that. &nbsp;I used some of the miles of piano key scraps I make from the fussy cut trimming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2x3U_M9iUCE/WVvaRk09KfI/AAAAAAAAEbc/zhmHGEaZYHIn9SRJJnSUngdxV_jZbnukwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170318_151805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1248" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2x3U_M9iUCE/WVvaRk09KfI/AAAAAAAAEbc/zhmHGEaZYHIn9SRJJnSUngdxV_jZbnukwCKgBGAs/s320/20170318_151805.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little more about this pattern. &nbsp;It is from a video by Jenny Doan at Missouri quilt company, called Exploding Block due to the way it is constructed. &nbsp;I like the pattern though decided I didn't like the bias on the outside edges created in her construction method. &nbsp;So I just cut the triangles with the grain going the normal direction. &nbsp;I started with my precut 4.5" squares as the center, so all I had to cut was the white and then the corners. &nbsp;I even used up some large precuts from previous novelty swaps. &nbsp;The best thing about this pattern is you chop the points off, on purpose. &nbsp;Yippee. &nbsp;Here is a close up of the blocks on my design wall before they are sewn together. &nbsp;Fun block to sew, scrappy result. &nbsp;I'll be doing this one again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GcR0MpxMSak/WVvazEttL3I/AAAAAAAAEbg/Jly9XWtCqXg-ra0ez_Cqc2c-jhvMg92AgCKgBGAs/s1600/20170312_190903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GcR0MpxMSak/WVvazEttL3I/AAAAAAAAEbg/Jly9XWtCqXg-ra0ez_Cqc2c-jhvMg92AgCKgBGAs/s320/20170312_190903.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-72537962445818865542017-07-04T10:59:00.000-07:002017-07-04T13:18:07.509-07:00What I did this spring.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hole in the Wall pattern by Eleanor Burns. &nbsp;I got this pattern off the donation table at our AZ retreat and had been holding it for a while. &nbsp;I didn't use the construction method in the pattern as I wanted to use novelty fabrics (of course) and needed to keep the direction of the fabric consistent. &nbsp;I used mostly large scatter prints to camouflage the seams as much as possible. &nbsp;As mentioned before it is always fun to collect and arrange novelty fabrics by color. &nbsp;Makes me feel like I'm playing with jelly beans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_foidrjJ-pA/WMIiRXueRXI/AAAAAAAADxk/cEKz24kr520qehFSYPaDzYnLHQ1JkXpWQCPcB/s1600/20170305_223608_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_foidrjJ-pA/WMIiRXueRXI/AAAAAAAADxk/cEKz24kr520qehFSYPaDzYnLHQ1JkXpWQCPcB/s320/20170305_223608_001.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br />Pattern from Connecting Threads, double pinwheel. &nbsp;The border used up the left over triangles from previous projects. &nbsp; &nbsp;I'm not all that pleased with how the contrast works in the pinwheels but it was an interesting experiment. &nbsp;If I ever do it again, I think the center pinwheels need to be solid or TOT and not novelty. &nbsp;The novelty in the middle of novelty looks too busy or muddy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJrFgBfgjWg/WMIiRf3G9_I/AAAAAAAADxk/KpmvQlXuxTkFrKkiAf1a8o4yL7s392xVQCPcB/s1600/DSC02063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJrFgBfgjWg/WMIiRf3G9_I/AAAAAAAADxk/KpmvQlXuxTkFrKkiAf1a8o4yL7s392xVQCPcB/s320/DSC02063.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was just a fun quilt to use up scraps. &nbsp;It goes together quickly and doesn't have any points to match!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yQVvlUXvYo/WMIiRf7ABZI/AAAAAAAADxk/ufGrfY41tKomP512QSIBLkqkb-8h8gTmwCPcB/s1600/20161003_204816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yQVvlUXvYo/WMIiRf7ABZI/AAAAAAAADxk/ufGrfY41tKomP512QSIBLkqkb-8h8gTmwCPcB/s320/20161003_204816.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Majestic Mountains. &nbsp;Unlike the previous quilt, this one has LOTS of points and seams to match &nbsp;But it was still fun selecting the fabrics, working on the contrast. &nbsp;Cutting is easy as you put a light and dark square together and cut on diagonal, sewing is easy too. &nbsp;It's just putting the blocks together gets fiddly, pressing the seams open works best between the blocks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVXfjlmX8vc/WMIiRbWDT2I/AAAAAAAADxk/PKlPHEMh8sszG7voPYDP_yekXClAb38gwCPcB/s1600/20160703_185354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVXfjlmX8vc/WMIiRbWDT2I/AAAAAAAADxk/PKlPHEMh8sszG7voPYDP_yekXClAb38gwCPcB/s320/20160703_185354.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br />Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-7200220799200205222017-03-09T20:35:00.004-08:002017-03-09T20:40:13.017-08:00Lots of fun in AZ - the results of a quilting retreatIn the last post, I mentioned that I had sewn a top at a quilting retreat. &nbsp;I've been going to this retreat in Phoenix for 10 years now. &nbsp;Frequently I put together kits to work on while I'm there. &nbsp;The main point of the weekend is to see friends and get away, but I do like to gets some sewing done too. &nbsp;The last couple of years I either worked on string quilt blocks or last year it was a bargello group class. &nbsp;Since I hadn't done any novelty quilts in several months I decided to do kits again. &nbsp;And as often happens (I've probably posted this before) I get started making kits and end up with more ideas than I have time to sew. &nbsp;Including the top I sewed the weekend before I left (couldn't wait) and the blocks I sewed into rows after I returned, I completed 5 tops - though technically I only sewed 3 1/2 while I was there - still pretty good for a 3 day weekend. &nbsp;Here are the remaining tops.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CS1_jCPDAI/WMIiRU6adWI/AAAAAAAADxk/FgBjGuo5nvk6c5jHBrBV8UG1ZUaahb2eACPcB/s1600/DSC02065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CS1_jCPDAI/WMIiRU6adWI/AAAAAAAADxk/FgBjGuo5nvk6c5jHBrBV8UG1ZUaahb2eACPcB/s320/DSC02065.JPG" width="268" /></a><br />This one was an idea from a catalog. &nbsp;It's half square triangles arranged in a swirling pattern. &nbsp;The finished blocks are just over 5", started with 6.5" squares then trimmed - I always like to trim as I'm not great on my 1/4" seam. Since I started with whole squares cut in half, this has the advantage of not only being I spy, it's also a matching game.&nbsp; The extra one will have to go on the back (odd number on the front).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahi1KlAbjAY/WMIiRTaaeSI/AAAAAAAADxk/9M7ikk5pYBwVeGaY7H8BphLcpshSmCYTgCPcB/s1600/DSC02068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahi1KlAbjAY/WMIiRTaaeSI/AAAAAAAADxk/9M7ikk5pYBwVeGaY7H8BphLcpshSmCYTgCPcB/s320/DSC02068.JPG" width="255" /></a>Since grouping fabrics by colors work so well, I had wanted to try this design for a while.&nbsp;&nbsp;I love the colors and contrast.&nbsp; Black does always&nbsp;look great with bright colors.&nbsp; The idea came from the Corridors pattern by Marjorie Rhine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5S8_nR0Uk4Q/WMIiRQH06nI/AAAAAAAADxk/5TRerCS_Ghs7Seg3m5IyyGixILQAt0WNACPcB/s1600/DSC02069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5S8_nR0Uk4Q/WMIiRQH06nI/AAAAAAAADxk/5TRerCS_Ghs7Seg3m5IyyGixILQAt0WNACPcB/s320/DSC02069.JPG" width="241" /></a>This quilt was a fun exercise in using up some extra 2" squares.&nbsp; And with the precut 4" squares, prep was very fast.&nbsp; I have done this one before, previously using only kitty fabrics and TOT squares.&nbsp; But it works great with novelty scraps too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one was fun, but I think it fall in the "probably won't do this one again" category.&nbsp; I think I'm definitely favoring grouped colors or a more orderly arrangement of the novelties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vO3jMpW0LDg/WMIiRb2-UyI/AAAAAAAADxk/PY9iwO3y968-GnOtuiBIRhl-3zNRmEIpgCPcB/s1600/20170226_222826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vO3jMpW0LDg/WMIiRb2-UyI/AAAAAAAADxk/PY9iwO3y968-GnOtuiBIRhl-3zNRmEIpgCPcB/s320/20170226_222826.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So now I've got a significant stack of I spy tops.&nbsp; At some point soon I'll need to have a quilting binge.</div><br /><img height="96" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahi1KlAbjAY/WMIiRTaaeSI/AAAAAAAADxk/9M7ikk5pYBwVeGaY7H8BphLcpshSmCYTgCPcB/s320/DSC02068.JPG" style="left: 649.97px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 564.77px;" width="76" />Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-48918000257315963722017-03-09T06:31:00.001-08:002017-03-09T06:31:04.067-08:00Deciding on fabrics - the process<span style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;">My eye has a tenancy to not really "see" what a fabric looks like overall but instead focus on the picture. &nbsp;I've tried taking my glasses off, squinting, etc. &nbsp;But a small picture on my phone screen works well. &nbsp;I do this when determining block placement, but as I've started doing more color study type quilts, it also works well when selecting the fabrics.</span><br /><span style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: arial;">This photo was to determine if I had a good arrangement of color and value. &nbsp;The quilt will be 4 x 5 blocks so I laid the folded fabric out that way (you can see the EQ layout of the pattern at the bottom of the screen. &nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhmWzGrfSB4/WIoZ8v00qdI/AAAAAAAADjg/6rUAPMJol-gEbuXQ8EOuHgpE0OvfoeXLgCKgB/s1600/20170123_215841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhmWzGrfSB4/WIoZ8v00qdI/AAAAAAAADjg/6rUAPMJol-gEbuXQ8EOuHgpE0OvfoeXLgCKgB/s320/20170123_215841.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;">The pattern will use one 4" square and four 2" squares, so I picked 2 fabrics that have a similar color value and read approximately the same from a distance. &nbsp;I have to keep in mind that the 2" squares need small patterns or the picture won't be identifiable. &nbsp;The 4" squares can have a larger picture. &nbsp;I could use the same fabric for the large and small squares, but where's the fun in that! &nbsp;I took this picture to see the arrangement on a small screen and only focus on the color, value &amp; contrast instead of the individual figure on the fabric. &nbsp;Some fabrics are extremely close, others are more of a blend but I think they will work. This quilt will have white background/sashing, so I couldn't use white fabrics. &nbsp;I'm also putting a kit together that uses black sashing, so for that one I excluded black fabrics. &nbsp;Knowing that I'm going to work on quilts that need small print fabrics that read almost as a TOT (almost) I have started watching for those as I shop (as well as looking for specific items).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;">This kit was sewn at the AZ retreat last February, having pre-cut the fabrics it went together extremely fast. &nbsp;This one may get sewn again. &nbsp;I think it needs a border but for now I goes in the stack of tops for future finishing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyOA5Tus2PE/WMFnIseHD_I/AAAAAAAADwc/y_ojUIExCs4Q6gO89jml2ArGYzWcZrpWwCKgB/s1600/snip.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyOA5Tus2PE/WMFnIseHD_I/AAAAAAAADwc/y_ojUIExCs4Q6gO89jml2ArGYzWcZrpWwCKgB/s320/snip.PNG" width="255" /></a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp;</div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-39180945598570882092017-03-09T06:17:00.000-08:002017-03-09T06:17:40.718-08:00Old Favorites Worth RepeatingHere is another post written 18 months ago but never posted. &nbsp;I have to admit I've only made 1 of these in the last 18 months, I've decided I really like color studies better. &nbsp;But it's still relevant. &nbsp;These are all pretty quick and easy and effective.<br /><br />I previously did a post was about quilt patterns I won't likely ever make again.&nbsp; So this time I thought I'd talk about the reverse.&nbsp; Here are some patterns are just so fun or easy (or both) I've made them several times.&nbsp;&nbsp;A few of these I've posted before but felt they should be included in this post again, sort of an I Spy Hall of Fame.<br /><br />Disappearing 9 patch - this pattern is very basic and easy but the secondary pattern is somewhat of a surprise.&nbsp; I've made 3 of these though 2 of them were in black so I've only shown 2 here.<br /><br />﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZAd2EGY578/VMB6Ur_Y-KI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/dfF6xFStyo0/s1600/D9P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZAd2EGY578/VMB6Ur_Y-KI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/dfF6xFStyo0/s320/D9P.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disappearing 9 Patch</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EpNJ7EAGUl0/VMB6emk8VDI/AAAAAAAAAdA/HMwUjUg-hl8/s1600/D9P%2BKatie%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EpNJ7EAGUl0/VMB6emk8VDI/AAAAAAAAAdA/HMwUjUg-hl8/s320/D9P%2BKatie%2527s.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disappearing 9 Patch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Woven strips - This patterns is a good way to use up some of those fussy cut left overs that weren't quite 4.5".&nbsp;&nbsp; It uses 4.5" x 3.0" cut&nbsp;rectangles with 1.25" side strips.&nbsp; One thing I learned in this quilt is that 1/4" seam is very important or it won't go together easily.&nbsp; The last version I arranged the rectangles&nbsp;in groups of 2 and by value and color&nbsp;to give it some additional organization.&nbsp; I like the result.&nbsp; I've made this one 4 times, one in lilac, one in hot pink, one in black, and one in blue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq-s-y_tsR0/VMB6B0bNm7I/AAAAAAAAAac/BBhyXbdLiq0/s1600/woven%2BPink%2Band%2Bpurple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq-s-y_tsR0/VMB6B0bNm7I/AAAAAAAAAac/BBhyXbdLiq0/s320/woven%2BPink%2Band%2Bpurple.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink and Purple Woven</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Co62imRGDoc/VMB7elK1A2I/AAAAAAAAAi8/Km1DBfmJyeM/s1600/woven%2Bscraps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Co62imRGDoc/VMB7elK1A2I/AAAAAAAAAi8/Km1DBfmJyeM/s320/woven%2Bscraps.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woven Graduations</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>&nbsp;Bricks and Stepping Stones.&nbsp; This pattern by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com is super easy.&nbsp; 4 Patches are one of my favorites to sew.&nbsp; They go together very easily but are very forgiving if your 1/4" seam isn't perfect.&nbsp; The first of these I was using up some swap fabrics that were oversized.&nbsp; The 2nd one I used my standard 4.5" precuts.&nbsp; Combined with strip sewn 4 patches it went together very fast.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVc0stXxmpc/VMB6m73GikI/AAAAAAAAAd0/tUT1hVOC7hY/s1600/bricks%2Band%2Bcobblestones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVc0stXxmpc/VMB6m73GikI/AAAAAAAAAd0/tUT1hVOC7hY/s320/bricks%2Band%2Bcobblestones.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bricks and Stepping Stones</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvuIgwjsyqs/VMB7aNfxDmI/AAAAAAAAAik/OzWXC1HZt-I/s1600/bricks%2Band%2Bcobblestones%2Bpurple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvuIgwjsyqs/VMB7aNfxDmI/AAAAAAAAAik/OzWXC1HZt-I/s320/bricks%2Band%2Bcobblestones%2Bpurple.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bricks and Stepping Stones</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leaning Stars or trellis pattern uses the same block.&nbsp;&nbsp;It starts with a standard 4.5" square, then add a small triangle on alternating corners.&nbsp; Depending on the color of the triangle and the arrangement of the block,&nbsp;the secondary pattern changes dramatically.&nbsp; The only "downside" to this block is all the tiny triangles left over that I feel guilty about tossing.&nbsp; I'm still trying to use them all up - my tiny Triangle quilt is still growing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3VPUevXQXs/VMB6zKfm8II/AAAAAAAAAfU/2ecxEh15q4Y/s1600/leaning%2Bstars%2BJoshua%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3VPUevXQXs/VMB6zKfm8II/AAAAAAAAAfU/2ecxEh15q4Y/s320/leaning%2Bstars%2BJoshua%2527s.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Leaning Stars</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXCeIIPlPR0/VMB6uNbjhtI/AAAAAAAAAec/7RszF91umH0/s1600/lattice%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXCeIIPlPR0/VMB6uNbjhtI/AAAAAAAAAec/7RszF91umH0/s320/lattice%2B2.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trellis</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsFyHP5If4w/VMB6BBhr0zI/AAAAAAAAAaU/ecaGmjKZB1E/s1600/all%2Babout%2Bme%2BKatie%2527s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsFyHP5If4w/VMB6BBhr0zI/AAAAAAAAAaU/ecaGmjKZB1E/s320/all%2Babout%2Bme%2BKatie%2527s.JPG" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All About Me</td></tr></tbody></table>All About Me by Attkinson Designs is&nbsp;a great pattern that works well with large print novelties.&nbsp; The repeating colors add unity to the overall design.&nbsp;&nbsp; Another nice thing about this pattern is you aren't limited by the background color.&nbsp;&nbsp;Normally if the background color is white, I can't use white novelties or the&nbsp;same with black.&nbsp; With the various colored frames, you can&nbsp;mix in every color.&nbsp; &nbsp;I've made this one twice and it's on my "need to make that again" list.&nbsp; Since the last time I made it I've gotten much better at that 1/4" seam, I think it will go together better now.&nbsp; I remember I had to ease or stretch&nbsp;in several places to fit the pieces together.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Frugal Patch by Quilterscache.com is a wonderful way to use up piano keys.&nbsp; This is another example of a pattern I modified to work better with novelties.&nbsp; Instead of the standard square in a square that Marcia Hohn's instructions indicate, I changed it to a 9 patch on point so that I could have 1 full light colored novelty square in the center.&nbsp; I made two of these several years ago, then two more again recently.&nbsp; I used lots of starch and pinned when sewing those little setting triangles and I'm proud to say I didn't lose any points/corners in the most recent versions.&nbsp; The pink one below was a quick donation quilt, using up some of the pink and purple piano keys left over from another quilt.</div><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VC1SuMF9rKM/VMB607diAjI/AAAAAAAAAfk/fkScJS39vhc/s1600/Frugal%2Bpatch%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VC1SuMF9rKM/VMB607diAjI/AAAAAAAAAfk/fkScJS39vhc/s320/Frugal%2Bpatch%2B2.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frugal Patch</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anXvO8L_6WU/VMB7zi5TRVI/AAAAAAAAAks/XiCKYxSnp88/s1600/Frugal%2Bpatch%2Bagain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-anXvO8L_6WU/VMB7zi5TRVI/AAAAAAAAAks/XiCKYxSnp88/s320/Frugal%2Bpatch%2Bagain.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frugal Patch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C92lcwBpvpE/VMB6OCPNC7I/AAAAAAAAAbo/S0SUPG3MY3Q/s1600/frugal%2Bpatch%2BPink%2Band%2Bblack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C92lcwBpvpE/VMB6OCPNC7I/AAAAAAAAAbo/S0SUPG3MY3Q/s320/frugal%2Bpatch%2BPink%2Band%2Bblack.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frugal Patch</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Shadowed Squares pattern is always a big hit.&nbsp; I wrote some instructions for this one to utilize strip sewing on the sashing/shadows that makes this one super simple to sew.&nbsp; The second version of this I substituted small half square triangle on the corners which makes the blocks appear 3-D, but you can't use the strip piecing so it takes a little longer to piece.&nbsp;&nbsp;I do love the optical illusions.&nbsp; I've made this one 4 times (plus the T-shirt quilt made recently which turned out great).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYFShXcI1PU/VO09TYtmAsI/AAAAAAAABEU/M7pj71CMS_k/s1600/shadow%2Bblock%2B3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYFShXcI1PU/VO09TYtmAsI/AAAAAAAABEU/M7pj71CMS_k/s320/shadow%2Bblock%2B3d.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadowed Squares</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRzdevBZ4QQ/VMB7XAuhRxI/AAAAAAAAAiU/X9wbSojldzg/s1600/shadowbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRzdevBZ4QQ/VMB7XAuhRxI/AAAAAAAAAiU/X9wbSojldzg/s320/shadowbox.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadowed Squares</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>&nbsp;Since I had a specific post about Attic Windows I won't show those again, but variations on attic window always work great with novelties.&nbsp; I don't tend to repeat patterns as much as I used to, mostly because I keep getting ideas for new patterns to try.&nbsp; But these are some of my favorites for many reasons.&nbsp; They work well with novelties and they are straight forward to construct.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-12034976776742400962017-03-09T06:13:00.000-08:002017-03-09T06:13:32.259-08:00Some Extra FunI'm not sure why but I just realized I never posted this. &nbsp;But it looks ready, so here goes.<br /><br />Hearts and Jars - These are a couple of patterns that are obvious stars for novelty fabrics.&nbsp; For a while there were Jar quilts everywhere and I kind of resisted following the pack.&nbsp; But eventually I gave in and here is my version.&nbsp; The patterns is easy and effective - but honestly a little boring to make, basically just a rectangular snowball.&nbsp; But I had to do at least one.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wjQ-qYPh4JM/VMB6dXLHl4I/AAAAAAAAAc4/G7fw5o8td3c/s1600/jars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wjQ-qYPh4JM/VMB6dXLHl4I/AAAAAAAAAc4/G7fw5o8td3c/s320/jars.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hearts - I originally saw this pattern at my first Houston Quilt Show but later they seemed to be every where too.&nbsp; But they are such a great quilt for a little girl I have made several of them.&nbsp; And I still have a big stack of large triangles left over from them.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Gz2QA9h-SQ/VMB6jzI210I/AAAAAAAAAdg/ecSvoooJcMA/s1600/heart%2Bi%2Bspy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Gz2QA9h-SQ/VMB6jzI210I/AAAAAAAAAdg/ecSvoooJcMA/s320/heart%2Bi%2Bspy.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black&nbsp; Sashed Hearts</td></tr></tbody></table><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6g-QZ9bFiQ/VMB7FYYGtNI/AAAAAAAAAg8/coocE4XYhfk/s1600/hearts%2Bgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6g-QZ9bFiQ/VMB7FYYGtNI/AAAAAAAAAg8/coocE4XYhfk/s320/hearts%2Bgirl.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Sashed Hearts</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEoDdxoOqnA/VMB7O07l0NI/AAAAAAAAAhs/7h1nkHYdTa4/s1600/pink%2Bheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEoDdxoOqnA/VMB7O07l0NI/AAAAAAAAAhs/7h1nkHYdTa4/s320/pink%2Bheart.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Sashed Hearts</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-80434651033016105982015-07-25T13:24:00.000-07:002015-07-25T13:24:55.210-07:00Trying something differentSometimes I've seen a pattern and thought, hmmm, I could make an I spy out of that.&nbsp; And then I try it.&nbsp; And part way through I think, oh dear, not having fun here.&nbsp; Or else, this really isn't turning out too well.&nbsp; Other times the resulting quilt looks great but the construction was so fiddly that I won't likely ever make the pattern again.&nbsp; So here is a collection of some of those attempts.&nbsp; Some worked great, other's not so much.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are likely to be one and onlys, a very limited edition.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVlznKQ0a0M/VMB6WqD81_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/1uH4T8qDOgA/s1600/tictactoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVlznKQ0a0M/VMB6WqD81_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/1uH4T8qDOgA/s320/tictactoe.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tic Tac Toe</td></tr></tbody></table>This tic-tac-toe pattern was from Quilter's Newsletter magazine, designed by Pamela Rocco.&nbsp; Cutting&nbsp;was challenging for me, mostly because I don't do "wonky" well.&nbsp; I'm the kind of person who straightens pictures in other people's houses.&nbsp;&nbsp; I tried following the&nbsp;directions but my&nbsp;wonky strips kept ending up weird looking.&nbsp; &nbsp;I also struggled with only using 24 fabrics.&nbsp; I had to select very carefully in order to have all 26&nbsp;letters of the alphabet and still have good contrast.&nbsp; And it made&nbsp;me sad to only use 24 fabrics when I've got baskets and baskets full.&nbsp; It needed a border but I&nbsp;couldn't figure out what would work, so it never got one.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-leFSsm_tRCI/VMB6ROoupLI/AAAAAAAAAb8/oHh_S2ExevY/s1600/clamshell%2Blarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-leFSsm_tRCI/VMB6ROoupLI/AAAAAAAAAb8/oHh_S2ExevY/s320/clamshell%2Blarge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="278" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clam Shells</td></tr></tbody></table></a>Clamshells.&nbsp; I can honestly say that I hate this quilt.&nbsp;I should have just tossed this when I realized how bad it was going but I hated to waste the fabric so I stuck with it.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was another pattern from Quilters Newsletter called Quick Bias-strip Clamshells by Barbara Barber.&nbsp; I thought it would be fun to try the technique but I did not enjoy it.&nbsp; It used A LOT of fabric to make the bias edge on each shell and left lots of weird rounded scraps.&nbsp;&nbsp;And it wasn't particularly quick either&nbsp;(Sorry Barbara).&nbsp;&nbsp;It's way too busy.&nbsp; Perhaps I should have used a solid fabric mixed in somewhere.&nbsp; Fortunately&nbsp;the lady who bought it from me loves it.</div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44rlUe7vxuE/VMB6omhZeDI/AAAAAAAAAd4/OAVLLR3MqIM/s1600/smitten.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44rlUe7vxuE/VMB6omhZeDI/AAAAAAAAAd4/OAVLLR3MqIM/s320/smitten.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="251" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smitten</td></tr></tbody></table></a>My friend Shelley from the About.com quilt forum found this pattern by Rachel Griffith called Smitten.&nbsp; I&nbsp;modified the way it was constructed to work better with the novelty fabrics.&nbsp;&nbsp;But I made the little triangles in the sashing too small; they sort of disappear or look like a mistake.&nbsp; The border was an attempt to get rid of some triangles from another project and I'm not happy with the different thicknesses of the whites strips.&nbsp; I couldn't figure out the geometry properly - too long since I had to use that knowledge.&nbsp; Overall I think it would have been better if I had followed the instructions in the original pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9C4_fV2F7MY/VMB7kTbw8aI/AAAAAAAAAjc/E0tc3CqT9ds/s1600/On%2Bthe%2Bgo%2Bto%2Bchina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9C4_fV2F7MY/VMB7kTbw8aI/AAAAAAAAAjc/E0tc3CqT9ds/s320/On%2Bthe%2Bgo%2Bto%2Bchina.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="247" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Go</td></tr></tbody></table></a>This is a happy quilt and the pattern is by one of my favorite bloggers, Melissa Cory called On the Go&nbsp;(I've done several quilts based on her blogs).&nbsp; It was for a little boy adopted from China so I thought the arrows indicating movement and travel were appropriate.&nbsp; I like how it turned out, but I didn't enjoy the process enough to do this one again.&nbsp; Too many triangles and lots of scraps left over.&nbsp; Also I didn't like how the novelty fabrics had to be pieced which chopped the larger pictures in half.</div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-64V6KKvew1g/VMB7rZ8j4-I/AAAAAAAAAkE/76hQaC7TDYQ/s1600/which%2Bway%2Bis%2Bup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">﻿<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iA-ocxXHOkM/VMB7usRUCII/AAAAAAAAAkU/NP08TLlMk50/s1600/dragon%2527s%2Blair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iA-ocxXHOkM/VMB7usRUCII/AAAAAAAAAkU/NP08TLlMk50/s320/dragon%2527s%2Blair.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewels</td></tr></tbody></table></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-64V6KKvew1g/VMB7rZ8j4-I/AAAAAAAAAkE/76hQaC7TDYQ/s1600/which%2Bway%2Bis%2Bup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">&nbsp;</a><br />Another happy quilt but I probably won't do this one again for similar reasons as some of the prior ones.&nbsp; This pattern is called Dragon's Lair by WhistlePig Productions.&nbsp; No idea why it's called that.&nbsp; I like how it turned out but there were lots of left over triangles that I'm still trying to figure out what to do with.&nbsp; The math on this was fiddly too as I constructed it different than the pattern indicated.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The pattern called for quarter square triangles but I didn't want all those little pieces so &nbsp;I used my 4.5" standard cut squares instead.&nbsp; I would have preferred the white strips to be all the same width but couldn't get it quite right.&nbsp; It reminds me of cut jewels.<br />﻿﻿<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JE8MeWKb01w/VMB72yYIYmI/AAAAAAAAAk8/OTro7EM0rgM/s1600/Fletch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JE8MeWKb01w/VMB72yYIYmI/AAAAAAAAAk8/OTro7EM0rgM/s320/Fletch.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fletcher</td></tr></tbody></table>Fletcher pattern by Shiney Happy World was another attempt to use triangles but to limit the waste.&nbsp; Rather than start with a large rectangle and cut off each end to make the point, I cut off one end and attached it to the other.&nbsp; I tried to chose fabrics with scatter patterns so it wasn't be as obvious.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't really like how much background fabric this pattern needs, so I probably won't make it again.&nbsp; It was&nbsp;quick and easy and I liked how it ended up over all.&nbsp; I did add some extra 4" square novelties as a border after this photograph was taken (primarily to make it larger for a toddler) and I think it helped pull everything together better.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the title of my blog indicates, this is a journey.&nbsp; I've learned a lot through the years from all my quilts.&nbsp; I've learned how to better evaluate a pattern to determine if it will work with novelties.&nbsp; I've learned that sometimes you can modify the pattern but sometimes you should stick with the instructions.&nbsp; I've learned to have a variety of scale and color in my stash.&nbsp;&nbsp;I've learned the importance of contrast as well as the need for a place to rest your eyes (think Clamshell).&nbsp; I've learned how to handle the construction to minimize waste (see Fletcher).&nbsp; Most imporantly I've learned to have fun and enjoy the process.</div></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-86097088548190604562015-07-11T10:21:00.000-07:002015-07-11T14:39:54.434-07:00Another process postI thought it was time for another post following an idea from the start all the way through to the finished top.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsRYkw-IrXQ/VaE35rhyROI/AAAAAAAABrw/Z-zj6FISe3g/s1600/20150617_215448_18734915700_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsRYkw-IrXQ/VaE35rhyROI/AAAAAAAABrw/Z-zj6FISe3g/s320/20150617_215448_18734915700_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>This one started with a small picture clipped from a magazine subscription ad.&nbsp; I had tossed it in my idea box a couple of years ago and ran across it recently when looking for something fun.&nbsp; Here's the original idea.<br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F34wmQ2IGxM/VaFAtCB81cI/AAAAAAAABsE/jbn-qDFvLKk/s1600/waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F34wmQ2IGxM/VaFAtCB81cI/AAAAAAAABsE/jbn-qDFvLKk/s320/waves.jpg" width="247" /></a>I looked around the internet to see if I could find a pattern, but with no luck.&nbsp; So I first drew it in EQ, but then&nbsp;drew it out the old fashioned way, with my old drafting tools.&nbsp;&nbsp; My version doesn't have as many ribbons in each wave but I didn't realize this until after it was sewn.&nbsp; Oh well, it still works.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxkSAYYRCW8/VaEdpvoUVRI/AAAAAAAABoA/N-Fb4OEq-d4/s1600/DSC01929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxkSAYYRCW8/VaEdpvoUVRI/AAAAAAAABoA/N-Fb4OEq-d4/s1600/DSC01929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxkSAYYRCW8/VaEdpvoUVRI/AAAAAAAABoA/N-Fb4OEq-d4/s320/DSC01929.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />&nbsp;I cut some templates from&nbsp;plastic and used them as guides for cutting the fabric.&nbsp; I started out drawing around them, but then got lazy.&nbsp; I confess, I did use them with the rotary cutter which I know isn't exactly safe, but I was very careful.&nbsp; I promise.<br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the fun things about scrappy quilts is playing with all the different fabrics.&nbsp; As I was cutting out each piece, it put them on my design wall to make sure I was getting a good mix of colors.&nbsp; I also check to make sure I didn't miss any letters of the alphabet.&nbsp; This pattern is particularly fiddly with 6 pattern pieces, 3 are the mirror&nbsp;of the others.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;design wall especially important with this pattern; I couldn't have kept it all straight without it during the cutting phase.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBA3li68VjU/VaEdo0tqrnI/AAAAAAAABn4/Wo9726aKXj0/s1600/DSC01927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBA3li68VjU/VaEdo0tqrnI/AAAAAAAABn4/Wo9726aKXj0/s320/DSC01927.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpSRMvkecMg/VaEdtbk1jjI/AAAAAAAABoY/QJHR6azTUVw/s1600/DSC01932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpSRMvkecMg/VaEdtbk1jjI/AAAAAAAABoY/QJHR6azTUVw/s320/DSC01932.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having lots of fun with this.&nbsp; Did I mention one of the big pains with scrappy quilts is putting away the fabric after you are done?</div><br /><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHYzOy2H5Ko/VaEdrB88YWI/AAAAAAAABoI/E86UNEV1-Bk/s1600/DSC01930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHYzOy2H5Ko/VaEdrB88YWI/AAAAAAAABoI/E86UNEV1-Bk/s320/DSC01930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2b4QUrah8M/VaEdusHNb9I/AAAAAAAABog/BjPLD7MOCWo/s1600/DSC01933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2b4QUrah8M/VaEdusHNb9I/AAAAAAAABog/BjPLD7MOCWo/s320/DSC01933.JPG" width="320" /></a>Starting out, I was going to mark each piece with alignment marks and pin in&nbsp;5 places.&nbsp; I did this for a while, then again I got lazy and tried not pinning.&nbsp; The curves are pretty large so I tried the method of sewing curves by holding the concave piece on top and feeding it through the presser foot gradually matching up the edge.&nbsp; I discovered it worked when the curve went one direction but not the other and not on all fabrics.&nbsp; Darn. &nbsp;I really wanted the outside edges to match correctly so I wouldn't have to trim.&nbsp;&nbsp;I knew it would make things easier when I put the blocks together.&nbsp; I wanted the seams to&nbsp;match properly or the pattern wouldn't work as well visually.&nbsp; Finally I decided pins really were necessary but only at the start and the end of each piece; since the curve was so gradual I didn't need them in the middle.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rl2BJMbTsU8/VaEdw7Zg7pI/AAAAAAAABow/DkUKDH6YxE8/s1600/DSC01935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rl2BJMbTsU8/VaEdw7Zg7pI/AAAAAAAABow/DkUKDH6YxE8/s320/DSC01935.JPG" width="320" /></a>I had to rip and re-stitch several blocks to get those edges to come out even, but it was worth it.&nbsp; Putting them all together was very simple.&nbsp; I pressed each alternate block in different directions so I could nest the seams between them but with the curves I needed pins to make sure they lined up properly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rZ5649Cg9k/VaEdz6hgbTI/AAAAAAAABpI/BmcQceJIPTw/s1600/DSC01938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rZ5649Cg9k/VaEdz6hgbTI/AAAAAAAABpI/BmcQceJIPTw/s1600/DSC01938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rZ5649Cg9k/VaEdz6hgbTI/AAAAAAAABpI/BmcQceJIPTw/s320/DSC01938.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I decided I wanted to add borders to the quilt so I thought I'd show how I measure for borders.&nbsp; I first fold the quilt in half and then half again.&nbsp; This lines up the two edges of the quilt with the center.&nbsp; I lay my first border down on that edge and use the quilt itself to cut the length of the border.&nbsp; There isn't any need to use a measuring tape.&nbsp; If it edges are a little longer or shorter than the middle, I use the center of the quilt.&nbsp; This prevents wavy edges.&nbsp; I pin these to the quilt, easing in any excess.&nbsp; Never just start sewing the border without trimming and pinning - wavy borders guaranteed (ask me how I know).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13M8U-Sfb0o/VaEd7MQTGKI/AAAAAAAABso/q6IZ4TUhcGk/s1600/DSC01945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13M8U-Sfb0o/VaEd7MQTGKI/AAAAAAAABso/q6IZ4TUhcGk/s1600/DSC01945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13M8U-Sfb0o/VaEd7MQTGKI/AAAAAAAABso/q6IZ4TUhcGk/s320/DSC01945.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Another trick when using multiple borders is to sew each alternate border together before attaching to the quilt.&nbsp; For example, top and bottom I sewed the green narrow border to the quilt.&nbsp; For the sides, I sewed the green narrow border to the wide blue border first, then attached to the quilt.&nbsp; Then I sewed the last blue border to the top and bottom.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It turned out a very happy quilt.&nbsp; The little boy who received is happy too.&nbsp; His last name is Fish and it was a happy coincidence that I included an unusual number of fish fabrics (I didn't know who was going to get it when I started).&nbsp; I added to my usual ABC poem on the label a line to count the fish.&nbsp; Hopefully I'll have a happy picture soon with his smiling face.&nbsp; I might make one for myself using "regular" fabrics, it's such a fun pattern visually.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwA0Ed48SLU/VaEdh53C2pI/AAAAAAAABnw/heQzoD0AbRY/s1600/waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwA0Ed48SLU/VaEdh53C2pI/AAAAAAAABnw/heQzoD0AbRY/s640/waves.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">﻿</div></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-69176891363751298542015-07-11T08:30:00.001-07:002015-07-11T14:39:38.023-07:00Discussion about fleece backing<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8Nolu-btog/VaEjgfdc3wI/AAAAAAAABrQ/_EUXDvtiDlQ/s1600/DSC01954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8Nolu-btog/VaEjgfdc3wI/AAAAAAAABrQ/_EUXDvtiDlQ/s320/DSC01954.JPG" width="162" /></a>Most of my I spy quilts have fleece backing.&nbsp;&nbsp;When I first starting making baby quilts I used poly batting with flannel backing (very puffy).&nbsp; But once I figured out how to deal with the stretch of fleece, I was hooked.&nbsp; There are many advantages.&nbsp; I live in North Texas where it's warm a good part of the year and even in winter it&nbsp;only rarely gets below freezing.&nbsp; So a heavy quilt isn't a benefit here.&nbsp; Fleece makes the quilt lighter.&nbsp; It's also always on sale and batting isn't necessary, so it's very cost effective.&nbsp; It's wide, so it&nbsp;doesn't need to be pieced.&nbsp; And since batting isn't needed, loading the quilt is that much faster.&nbsp; I roll an entire bolt of&nbsp;the fleece&nbsp;onto&nbsp;long&nbsp;cardboard tubes left over from drapery fabric purchases.&nbsp; Then when I need to use it, it's very easy to transfer to the take up bars on my frame.&nbsp; I can quilt several quilts in a row production line style, then roll the left over back onto the cardboard tube for storage.&nbsp; This also minimizes stretching the fleece during loading.<br /><br />Stretch.&nbsp; That's the big problem with fleece.&nbsp; The first time I tried fleece on my quilt frame, it was a disaster.&nbsp; I had to remove every stitch and start over.&nbsp; The problem?&nbsp; I didn't load the backing with the selvage on the sides, but instead at the top and the bottom.&nbsp; And it stretched, very badly stretched.&nbsp; Fleece like most fabrics stretches the most on the width of the fabric.&nbsp; It's much more stable along the length.&nbsp; Loading the fabric on the frame (even cotton) with the length of the fabric running up and down instead of side to side will minimize stretch and subsequent puckering.&nbsp; <br /><br />Loading the fabric properly helps but doesn't solve all the problems.&nbsp; There's still that side to side stretch - lots of it.&nbsp; Originally I was using the clamps that came with my frame&nbsp;on the sides&nbsp;but this posed lots of problems.&nbsp; They hung down so that when I was using rulers and the ruler base, it hit against those big clamps.&nbsp; They also were so heavy that they stretched the fleece.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fleece stretches very easily on the width of the fabric so it requires more care than quilting cotton.&nbsp; Somewhere on the internet I saw a solution that I liked.&nbsp; No idea whose video I was watching so I can't give credit.&nbsp; Here's my version - not real pretty but they work great.&nbsp; (That's a scrap of cotton batting there on the right that I use as a thread catcher - important as I have a cat who loves to eat thread and I'm tired of vet bills)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eOtExB3GlU/VaEd_YsxgSI/AAAAAAAABro/yQxTZ2GlR3E/s1600/DSC01950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eOtExB3GlU/VaEd_YsxgSI/AAAAAAAABro/yQxTZ2GlR3E/s320/DSC01950.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PjQfLH8KbE/VaEeBdzL14I/AAAAAAAABqw/3TxkIgLJ6WA/s1600/DSC01952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PjQfLH8KbE/VaEeBdzL14I/AAAAAAAABqw/3TxkIgLJ6WA/s320/DSC01952.JPG" width="240" /></a>I&nbsp; took two fabric scraps (one for each side), hemmed and added a casing for the dowel.&nbsp; I cut a couple of slots where I could wrap the Velcro around the dowel.&nbsp; The fabric&nbsp;is pinned to the backing on the side, then the Velcro straps are stretched and attached to the frame.&nbsp;&nbsp; The dowel keeps the tension consistent as does pinning end to end (I typically use 4 large pearl head pins).&nbsp; Pinning takes a little longer but honestly it's easier on my wrists than those clamps.&nbsp; The fabric and dowel are thin and&nbsp;light so they don't pull the fabric down and they don't get in the way when using rulers.&nbsp; I can quilt to within an inch of the edge with no problems.&nbsp; With the fleece, I <u>only put just enough tension so that the Velcro straps don't sag</u>.&nbsp; But no more.&nbsp; This keeps the fleece flat but doesn't stretch it.&nbsp; Don't pull taut like you would with quilting cotton.&nbsp; This is very important if you don't want ugly bubbles along the edges of the quilt.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4Czpxcjufo/VaEeAoBRAzI/AAAAAAAABqo/wr8RD2KpnZs/s1600/DSC01951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4Czpxcjufo/VaEeAoBRAzI/AAAAAAAABqo/wr8RD2KpnZs/s320/DSC01951.JPG" width="320" /></a>One other trick I've started using.&nbsp; My machine is only 16" but my frame can accommodate a larger machine (maybe someday).&nbsp; I had a hard time remembering where I needed to stop as I was quilting.&nbsp; Nothing more frustrating thinking you have room to do one more swirl and ending up with&nbsp;a flattened donut instead.&nbsp; I thought why not put a guide to give me a warning when I was getting close.&nbsp; At first I used the leader from the bar meant for the quilt top (I float my quilts), but then one day I got too close and sewed through it.&nbsp; Hmm, how about a ribbon.&nbsp; I baste each side of the border as far as the machine will reach, then use that as a guide to pin the ribbon.&nbsp; This gives me a visual cue as to have far I can go before I get into trouble.&nbsp; I've only caught the ribbon once and I just cut it instead of my stitching.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8C3-q2XxFk/VaEd-XGaaJI/AAAAAAAABqY/PygwVBRaWkU/s1600/DSC01949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8C3-q2XxFk/VaEd-XGaaJI/AAAAAAAABqY/PygwVBRaWkU/s320/DSC01949.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />One more thing.&nbsp; I&nbsp;float all my tops, meaning&nbsp;I don't use the bar on my frame meant for the quilt top. I've found that the fleece holds the top smooth and flat enough that I don't need any tension and it makes loading the quilt&nbsp;faster&nbsp;and easier (not my favorite part of frame quilting).&nbsp; I leave the bar on the machine and the canvas leader provides a little bit of tension as does the weight of the top&nbsp;hanging down.&nbsp; As I get near the bottom of the quilt I will&nbsp;pin the top to the backing when I can see it's needed to keep things flat and even.&nbsp; I've started floating tops like this even when using batting and cotton backing.&nbsp; It&nbsp;is so much easier to smooth out the batting as I go when the top is hanging loose.&nbsp; I guess if you are doing heirloom or dense quilting it might cause problems but so far I've not seen any need to roll the top on the bar.&nbsp; Sometimes I have to chase the cat away as he thinks the quilt hanging down is a toy but then he thinks everything is a toy.&nbsp; For large quilts and quilts with batting, I made a type of sling or hammock from slippery lining fabric&nbsp;to keep things off the floor (but that cat thinks that's a really fun hammock -sorry, no pic).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVD1cgugAV4/VaEd9CxJ6eI/AAAAAAAABqQ/IgLtNiynp_4/s1600/DSC01948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YVD1cgugAV4/VaEd9CxJ6eI/AAAAAAAABqQ/IgLtNiynp_4/s320/DSC01948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In case you were wondering, the red strips in the picture above are called Red Snappers, a system of plastic grips used to attach the backing to the canvas leaders.&nbsp; They are very&nbsp;quick to use but they take some getting used to.&nbsp; Initially I had some problems using them with&nbsp;fleece but over time they've loosened up.&nbsp; I've also gotten the hang of flexing them as I press down but you do need a flat solid surface to do it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Removing the leaders from the bar helps.&nbsp;&nbsp;I attach the top of the backing to the back bar first and roll the entire thing loosely onto that bar.&nbsp; Then I attach the bottom leader, making sure it's 90 degrees to the edge of the fabric.&nbsp; I carefully attach the leader back on the bar, making sure it's straight, not shifted&nbsp;and the fabric is 90 degrees to the bar, then I roll everything back onto the bottom bar slow and even.&nbsp; As mentioned above I can get an entire bolt rolled this way unless it's especially thick fleece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading, hopefully some of the things I learned the hard way (my favorite way to learn) will be helpful and save others some frustration.</div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-20536294636222998202015-06-23T11:03:00.000-07:002015-06-23T11:03:04.440-07:00Big Influences or I owe it all to AmiAny time you have a creative hobby, there are going to be many influences that impact your craft.&nbsp; There have been many through the years where I've gotten ideas, patterns, tips and tricks.&nbsp; Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville.com has given me many ideas for what I call my general quilts.&nbsp; And Marcia Hahn's Quilterscache.com is a wonderful encyclopedia for quilt blocks.&nbsp; I've randomly made 3 quilts designed by Melissa Cory&nbsp;(Happy Quilts) just by stumbling across her blog over a 4 year period and thinking "oh I like that and printing the idea for later.&nbsp; But definitely the biggest influence on my I spy quilts has been Ami Simms and her book "Picture Play Quilts".<br /><br />When I first saw the book at the Dallas Quilt show I talked myself out of it.&nbsp; It's a not a thick&nbsp;book and at the time I thought I really didn't need a book to tell me how to make baby quilts.&nbsp; The patterns aren't complicated and I felt I didn't&nbsp;need instructions.&nbsp; I think it was the 2nd or 3rd time I picked it up that I finally bought it.&nbsp; And read it.&nbsp; And as they say, it changed everything.&nbsp; The book isn't so much about the patterns as it is about the ideas and the approach to I Spy quilts.&nbsp; I&nbsp; loved her focus on the pictures, her use of color, and her general sense of fun.&nbsp; Her quilts are to enjoy, to have fun and play, not to decorate the nursery.&nbsp; Her patterns inspired my philosophy of fabric collecting (see previous posts).&nbsp; I remember a 6 month period I was on a quest to find every novelty with a white background&nbsp; I could get my hands on just so I could make one of the quilts in her book (see Folded Stars).&nbsp; So this post is dedicated to the quilts I made from Ami's book as well as the seeds of ideas that she planted in my brain that are still growing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Emzcu_VSOU/VMB5-6Er7kI/AAAAAAAAAaA/sQ5VWuPCr0k/s1600/3d%2Bstars%2BBrooklynn%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Emzcu_VSOU/VMB5-6Er7kI/AAAAAAAAAaA/sQ5VWuPCr0k/s400/3d%2Bstars%2BBrooklynn%2527s.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Folded Stars from Picture Play Quilts by Ami Simms</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>&nbsp;Folded Stars uses coordinating tone on tone fabrics in folded triangles to make the star points.&nbsp; It was lots of fun searching for all those white novelty fabrics to make up the background.&nbsp; I saw the little girl about 6 years after this was gifted and her mother introduced me as the lady who made her quilt.&nbsp; Her face lit up and she grinned from ear to ear, obviously the quilt was very special to her.&nbsp; Talk about making my day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aIJMWbkvf0Q/VMB6vsxpagI/AAAAAAAAAew/ld7njqy63f0/s1600/trip%2BCole%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aIJMWbkvf0Q/VMB6vsxpagI/AAAAAAAAAew/ld7njqy63f0/s320/trip%2BCole%2527s.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip around the World from Picture Play Quilts <br />by Ami Simms</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br />These Trip around the World quilts go together very quickly (I've made 2).&nbsp; And of course you need a good selection of each fabric color.&nbsp; My collection of reds and yellow are much larger now.&nbsp; These are my first color focused quilts.&nbsp; My later ones are definitely more complex but the initial inspiration for using color to define a pattern came from these.﻿﻿﻿﻿<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />﻿﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7uU1UaH26JI/VMB6x11-YYI/AAAAAAAAAfE/LgAaeeV0MyE/s1600/Hugs%2B%2526%2BKisses%2BRachele%2527s%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7uU1UaH26JI/VMB6x11-YYI/AAAAAAAAAfE/LgAaeeV0MyE/s320/Hugs%2B%2526%2BKisses%2BRachele%2527s%2B.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs and Kisses&nbsp;from Picture Play Quilts by Ami Simms</td></tr></tbody></table>Hugs and Kisses&nbsp;used 3D squares which are caught in the seams to make the little diamonds.&nbsp; The result was great but I got stuck so many times by the pins I didn't every make this one again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3VPUevXQXs/VMB6zKfm8II/AAAAAAAAAfU/2ecxEh15q4Y/s1600/leaning%2Bstars%2BJoshua%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3VPUevXQXs/VMB6zKfm8II/AAAAAAAAAfU/2ecxEh15q4Y/s320/leaning%2Bstars%2BJoshua%2527s.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttons and Bows&nbsp;from Picture Play Quilts by Ami Simms</td></tr></tbody></table>This pattern uses quick pieced triangles.&nbsp; Originally I used the method with a square sewn diagonal and cutting away the waste triangle.&nbsp; This quilt (and several subsequent ones I made using triangles) started my collection of tiny half square waste triangles that resulted in the&nbsp;Triangle Madness quilt&nbsp; (see the post titled&nbsp;Fun with Triangles <a href="http://deeintex.blogspot.com/2015/01/fun-with-triangles.html" target="_blank">here</a>).&nbsp; As mentioned in that post, I don't use that method any more but I still love the many different arrangements you came get with this block just by turning them 90 degrees.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These zig zag quilts (I made 2 again) use both 4x4 and 2x2 squares which is handy to use up some of the odd sizes left over from fussy cutting (when you get tired of piano keys).&nbsp; The mom on the first one asked for yellow (to match the nursery) but I cut way too many scrappy yellow strips.&nbsp; I couldn't figure out how to use them so I just made a 2nd one and gave it to the big sister of the baby who got the Hugs and Kisses quilt.<br />&nbsp;﻿﻿<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0K2_BtUhTTk/VMB6yTuYYyI/AAAAAAAAAfM/Xr02ZaHSouw/s1600/Zigzag%2BJacquelyn%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0K2_BtUhTTk/VMB6yTuYYyI/AAAAAAAAAfM/Xr02ZaHSouw/s320/Zigzag%2BJacquelyn%2527s.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zig Zag Zoom from Picture Play Quilts by Ami Simms</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I haven't made any patterns directly from Picture Play Quilts in several years, but the ideas and perspective continue to "color" my recent quilts and definitely influence my fabric stash.&nbsp; I am so glad I finally purchased Ami's book.&nbsp; It has made this Novelty journey a lot of fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-18578487014716414072015-06-22T14:54:00.000-07:002015-06-22T14:54:02.838-07:00Andrews Road QuiltI have to tell a story about my little 2nd cousin.&nbsp; He loves cars.&nbsp; Really really loves cars.&nbsp; He's now 7, so he loves lots of things.&nbsp; But when he was a toddler, cars were about the only things he wanted to play with.&nbsp; Seems like he had a little car in each chubby fist at all times. I have a wonderful memory of my father with Andrew sitting on his lap.&nbsp; Andrew kept&nbsp;hiding a hot wheels car under my dad's shirt, kind of a peek-a-boo game.&nbsp; They were both grinning and giggling and having the very best time, 80 years apart in age.&nbsp; It's one of the most wonderful memories I have of my dad.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was because of Andrew's love of cars that I got the idea to make him an I spy quilt entirely with car fabrics.&nbsp; I had made him a baby quilt when he was born but I really didn't like the quilt much and felt he needed a better one.&nbsp; As it turned out, I had to include a few boats, planes, helicopters, and tractors too, so it's really a transportation quilt.&nbsp; I had previously played around with a pattern that used zig-zagging sashing in rainbow colors with half square triangles.&nbsp; The rainbow colors kind of got lost with all the various colors of the novelty fabrics and I had wanted to try the pattern again but with more contrast.&nbsp; Aha, how about black and&nbsp;blue&nbsp;and make each alternate stripe a road.&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wB-FNEyWINk/VMB6GdLBE6I/AAAAAAAAAbA/1QlT0pm7_6A/s1600/road%2BAndrews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wB-FNEyWINk/VMB6GdLBE6I/AAAAAAAAAbA/1QlT0pm7_6A/s640/road%2BAndrews.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew's road quilt</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H57gNsSLwyM/VMB8f1yJIMI/AAAAAAAAAmE/0rIj2SAWG08/s1600/road%2Bdetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H57gNsSLwyM/VMB8f1yJIMI/AAAAAAAAAmE/0rIj2SAWG08/s320/road%2Bdetail.jpg" width="264" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OnWLWYKGOb8/VMB8hE2bZCI/AAAAAAAAAmM/N5S6_4INuSk/s1600/road%2Bbacking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OnWLWYKGOb8/VMB8hE2bZCI/AAAAAAAAAmM/N5S6_4INuSk/s320/road%2Bbacking.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;I found the most amazing ribbon that looked just like road stripes to add to the black sashes.&nbsp; And of course I needed something extra special on the corners so I dug out my old embroidery machine and made some stop signs.&nbsp; I even found some road sign themed fleece for the backing.<br /><br /><br />&nbsp;It was so fun giving this quilt to my little cousin.&nbsp; He was so very excited and it was interesting to watch him share with his older twin brothers.&nbsp; He was very patient and let them play with him on his quilt for about 30 minutes (a very long for a 2 year old) but finally he said, "Mine".&nbsp; And pushed them away (without too much fuss).<br />&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iQ2FNRkQzI/VMB8iI_Wf2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/E3e8Coix0X4/s1600/road%2Bquilt%2Band%2Bcousins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iQ2FNRkQzI/VMB8iI_Wf2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/E3e8Coix0X4/s400/road%2Bquilt%2Band%2Bcousins.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Andrew still brings his road quilt when they come to stay the weekend with us and it makes me smile each time to see how special it is for him. One of my very favorite quilts.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-23925211596865961782015-06-20T18:45:00.000-07:002015-06-20T18:45:00.113-07:00Back in Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I first started on this blog journey, I had lots of ideas about what I wanted to discuss.&nbsp; The posts came fast and quick.&nbsp; But as you can tell given my limited posts since February, I'm slowing down.&nbsp; So I thought I'd revisit a few more of my early quilts. Some turned out well, others just didn't.&nbsp; I know the kiddos loved them anyway, but it's helpful for me to think about why some things work better than others.</div><br />In the following two quilts I really wrestling with integrating novelty fabrics into a chosen design.&nbsp; I hadn't really figured out yet what&nbsp;patterns worked well with the novelty fabrics.&nbsp; On this pink quilt with flying geese and rail fence blocks,&nbsp;the overall effect feels a little awkward.&nbsp; I hadn't gotten comfortable with contrast or value and I think that's part of why it feels unsatisfying when I look at it now.&nbsp; Also the novelty fabrics feel like an afterthought, rather than an integrated part of the design.&nbsp; I remember struggling with fitting the novelty pictures in the geese (not many small scale prints in my stash at that point).<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yaDcS15QKVk/VMB63Z0FibI/AAAAAAAAAgE/BYP8qF5HbS4/s1600/Flying%2BGeese%2B%2526%2Brails%2BKay%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yaDcS15QKVk/VMB63Z0FibI/AAAAAAAAAgE/BYP8qF5HbS4/s320/Flying%2BGeese%2B%2526%2Brails%2BKay%2527s.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fly Away Home pattern by Touchwood Quilt Design</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;This quilt has a similar problem, the novelty fabrics fight with the pinwheels.&nbsp; I think it would have worked better with black and white pinwheels.&nbsp; Something about the very bright blue and yellow doesn't play well with the novelty fabrics.&nbsp; Viewing the quilt on screen it's difficult to even see the pattern.&nbsp; There is too much going on and no focus.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcPNp1bZHZU/VMB61tTp-rI/AAAAAAAABlw/tuKV9k2TtgM/s1600/Pinwheels%2BJackson%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcPNp1bZHZU/VMB61tTp-rI/AAAAAAAABlw/tuKV9k2TtgM/s320/Pinwheels%2BJackson%2527s.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspired by sample from Cabbage Rose Quilts, Fort Worth, TX</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This&nbsp;modified BQ2 quilt&nbsp;works much better with the novelty fabrics.&nbsp; There is better contrast and you can get a sense of the pattern/design.&nbsp; The background fabrics support the novelties.&nbsp; They stay "in the background" and I think that and the contrast are why this one works so well.&nbsp; The diagonal secondary design gives it a lot of movement too.&nbsp; Sometimes it's a balancing act when using novelties, between the various novelties and the design of the quilt pattern itself.&nbsp; I have to admit, this one was a happy surprise.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BG_3LWnXBk/VMB6LtwIUqI/AAAAAAAAAbY/AWlEdk7wxWM/s1600/Chopsticks%2Bfor%2BChristian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BG_3LWnXBk/VMB6LtwIUqI/AAAAAAAAAbY/AWlEdk7wxWM/s320/Chopsticks%2Bfor%2BChristian.JPG" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modified BQ2 (Maple Island Quilts)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This drunkards path quilt was very fun except for turning all the little turtle heads and tails.&nbsp; It's a nice idea to make them 3 dimensional but if I ever do this pattern again, they will definitely be machine appliqué.&nbsp; I also wish I had stuck with a more neutral background.&nbsp; I remember I had purchased the purple&nbsp;hoping it would be neutral enough but then struggled with where to use it.&nbsp; I haven't tried a purple background again. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0Fc1prkVKo/VMB62FUyjTI/AAAAAAAAAf0/UQighjXRa58/s1600/turtles%2BAutumn%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0Fc1prkVKo/VMB62FUyjTI/AAAAAAAAAf0/UQighjXRa58/s320/turtles%2BAutumn%2527s.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speedy by Kelly Davis</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">﻿﻿﻿</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This spools quilt was made about the same time as the turtles and I think the white background works much better.&nbsp; I still struggle today with good backgrounds, trying to vary from white or black, but with so many colors in the novelties, black or white are usually the best choice.&nbsp; The spool pattern worked very well using small scale novelties.&nbsp; I need to put this one on my "make again" list (when I run out of other ideas).</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">﻿﻿</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sClDNJAG_qM/VMB7BtJR4xI/AAAAAAAAAgU/bjcB9MN5qZ4/s1600/Spools%2BLauren%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sClDNJAG_qM/VMB7BtJR4xI/AAAAAAAAAgU/bjcB9MN5qZ4/s320/Spools%2BLauren%2527s.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Spools Pattern</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another lesson I've learned.&nbsp; Don't ask</span> Mom what colors to put in the quilt.&nbsp; That pink one at the top of this post was a result of that.&nbsp; I've heard that it matched the nursery very well, but I just didn't enjoy making it, partly because of the constraint of that pink.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is another where mom requested a specific color that I struggled with.&nbsp;&nbsp;It needed to be green for a boy (his older brothers are twins and their colors are red and blue).&nbsp; I tried to find a boyish green but was never happy with what I finally chose.&nbsp; I think it is the main reason I was never happy with the quilt.&nbsp; I later made the little boy (a cousin) another one and disregarded the green request.&nbsp; The result was a very happy quilt that I'll talk about at another time (that one needs it's own post).<br />﻿﻿﻿<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HqYNmUKUJyE/VMB6rdIGrQI/AAAAAAAAAeI/XrXTC5K3FhI/s1600/strips%2BAndrew%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HqYNmUKUJyE/VMB6rdIGrQI/AAAAAAAAAeI/XrXTC5K3FhI/s320/strips%2BAndrew%2527s.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Fons &amp; Porter Love of Quilting Magazine</td></tr></tbody></table>I have to confess.&nbsp; I have trouble remembering what I've talked about before and which quilts I've posted before.&nbsp; So early in this blogging process I marked all the quilts in my scrap books with post-it flags.&nbsp; As I post a picture of a quilt, I remove the flag.&nbsp; Remember I'm a little obsessively organized sometimes.&nbsp; This post includes early quilts that just haven't fit into earlier discussions easily.&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't want to leave any out after all.&nbsp;&nbsp; There's always something to be learned, even from less than A+ results.&nbsp;﻿﻿﻿&nbsp;</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">﻿﻿﻿﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-30047514064237049652015-06-17T19:22:00.000-07:002015-06-17T19:22:17.558-07:00Some more happy facesYou may remember me posting pictures of some of the recipients of my quilts back in January.&nbsp; Wow, 6 months ago.&nbsp; Well, since then I've made a number of quilts and given many of them away.&nbsp; One of them in particular for a little red head named Georgia was a hugs and kisses design that I was very pleased with.&nbsp; Well, here is a picture of Georgia enjoying her quilt.&nbsp; What a wonderful bonus, to know that something I enjoyed making is giving someone else such joy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayq53K5cFEg/VYIqGUEdPGI/AAAAAAAABj4/8evueHA-9oM/s1600/Georgias%2Bquilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayq53K5cFEg/VYIqGUEdPGI/AAAAAAAABj4/8evueHA-9oM/s320/Georgias%2Bquilt.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And a few more.&nbsp; Don't they look even better wrapped around a sweet baby?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92Hr5xz7A1A/VYIp0y7QnhI/AAAAAAAABjo/pOAmf4ljOc4/s1600/Eric%2BTristan%2B4.19.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-92Hr5xz7A1A/VYIp0y7QnhI/AAAAAAAABjo/pOAmf4ljOc4/s320/Eric%2BTristan%2B4.19.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZppghdZe-Ng/VYIqEHAwwpI/AAAAAAAABjw/I64O5Hm-Mlc/s1600/Joshua%2527s%2Bquilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZppghdZe-Ng/VYIqEHAwwpI/AAAAAAAABjw/I64O5Hm-Mlc/s320/Joshua%2527s%2Bquilt.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UeCzPOeQll4/VYIqJXfGoDI/AAAAAAAABkA/7q9FuuHgy4w/s1600/Radhikas%2Bbaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UeCzPOeQll4/VYIqJXfGoDI/AAAAAAAABkA/7q9FuuHgy4w/s320/Radhikas%2Bbaby.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />And here's another favorite.&nbsp; This is a 2nd cousin's grandson (not sure what relation that makes him).&nbsp; He couldn't decide which side he wanted to play with most, so grandma just wrapped him up.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMICFrWjBWA/VMVsCQtYpPI/AAAAAAAAAss/lDAQZiqfSkk/s1600/IMG_5167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMICFrWjBWA/VMVsCQtYpPI/AAAAAAAAAss/lDAQZiqfSkk/s320/IMG_5167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for smiling with me.</div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-81565134010951688722015-06-06T08:05:00.001-07:002015-06-06T08:05:43.359-07:00Another fun color studyI recently had some serious fun at Fabrics.com with their search by color feature.&nbsp; Remember my moaning about not being able to find many purple novelty fabrics?&nbsp; Aha, well they were very accommodating.&nbsp; And while I was there I found some oranges and some reds. And greens and yellow.&nbsp; Told you I had fun.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye0di3gLeN8/VXMHxl_4q7I/AAAAAAAABf8/hPF2_Md4u7A/s1600/16609512253_4449937d5a_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye0di3gLeN8/VXMHxl_4q7I/AAAAAAAABf8/hPF2_Md4u7A/s320/16609512253_4449937d5a_k.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isn't this crocodile with shades wonderful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UBpfF9MDns/VXMIkomb2mI/AAAAAAAABgE/bR2eqphWDwg/s1600/16607272554_a2e5ccc699_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UBpfF9MDns/VXMIkomb2mI/AAAAAAAABgE/bR2eqphWDwg/s320/16607272554_a2e5ccc699_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And llamas!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xii_loHML1E/VXMInKH-JaI/AAAAAAAABgM/MsAMeWKK3m4/s1600/17022295317_85e4742007_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xii_loHML1E/VXMInKH-JaI/AAAAAAAABgM/MsAMeWKK3m4/s320/17022295317_85e4742007_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, with all this fun new fabric, I had to make a quilt.&nbsp; Of course.&nbsp; I went through my box of "ideas" to find one I hadn't tried yet and came across this one.&nbsp; It was the inspiration for an earlier quilt but I had changed the diagonal stripes to horizontal because I didn't have enough purple to make a diagonal.&nbsp; But now I did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c_26tYlokDc/VXMCzc_MkTI/AAAAAAAABWA/eOsIvXIM9P8/s1600/Rainbow%2Bdiagonal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c_26tYlokDc/VXMCzc_MkTI/AAAAAAAABWA/eOsIvXIM9P8/s320/Rainbow%2Bdiagonal.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The&nbsp;layout&nbsp;uses my standard precut 4.5" squares, paired with a 4 patch.&nbsp; To keep things simple I used one TOT for each coordinating color (faster than scrappy).&nbsp; I do love 4 patches, they are very forgiving.&nbsp; I think this is my new favorite pattern.&nbsp; It was very easy and stress free.&nbsp; I like the movement of the diagonal arrangement too.&nbsp; And so colorful!&nbsp; Look at the wonderful long stripe of purple!&nbsp;&nbsp;It's so much fun picking from&nbsp;new fabrics and selecting the TOTs to coordinate.&nbsp; Overall a very happy quilt and a good time putting it together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-67180099246591106872015-06-06T07:41:00.001-07:002015-06-06T08:06:19.435-07:00What have I been doing???Wow, no posts since February?&nbsp; I'm not sure exactly what I've been doing.&nbsp; In my defense I have been busy at work.&nbsp; The company I work for has a February fiscal year end, so March is always extremely busy at work.&nbsp; But that was 3 months ago.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hmmm, thinking back.<br /><br />I have&nbsp;been sewing.&nbsp; I finished the last two kits I had put together for the AZ retreat&nbsp;and plus one more so I've got a stack of 7 I spy quilts.&nbsp; I made a T-shirt quilt for a friend and a psycho cat quilt for a favorite crazy cat lady friend.&nbsp; And I finished an extremely old UFO.&nbsp; It's not an I spy, but I'm proud of it so will post a pic anyway.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNVWtSXDM-4/VXMEIyQRbWI/AAAAAAAABfk/Z3v7tEQj4N4/s1600/Sunset%2Bstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNVWtSXDM-4/VXMEIyQRbWI/AAAAAAAABfk/Z3v7tEQj4N4/s320/Sunset%2Bstars.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Stars</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>&nbsp; It was a kit that I found on clearance at Cabbage Rose quilt shop in Fort Worth, TX.&nbsp; Originally I bought it just because it was a great deal for all that batik.&nbsp; But once I got it home and started looking at the Judy Niemeyer pattern, I decided to give it a try.&nbsp; Wow, is that lady organized!&nbsp; She even gives you cutting patterns and instructions on how to store the pieces.&nbsp; It was fun and easy to do,&nbsp;definitely the best pattern I've every used by far.&nbsp; And turned out great.&nbsp; And I have fabric enough to make another quilt (told you it was a great deal).&nbsp; I did decide to add the gold flange and the borders because I didn't want to fiddle with binding and hanging a quilt with curved edges.&nbsp; So I sewed on the flange, then laid it over the top of the borders and appliqued it down.&nbsp; That was I was sure it was flat and even.<br /><br />Once the top was done, I got nervous.&nbsp;&nbsp;I was afraid my quilting skills weren't good enough to do it justice.&nbsp; Besides, I had no idea where I could hang it (rationalization at it's best).&nbsp; So I packed it away.&nbsp; Fast forward 5 or 6 years.&nbsp; Our TV just died in the living room and we decided to replace it with a screen and projector.&nbsp; Which means I have a lovely large wall to hang a quilt.&nbsp; I decided to just do some basic ruler work to outline the spikes and geese, then some "hooked on feathers" on the border.&nbsp; The feathers turned out great but you can't see them - oh well, they look pretty on the back.&nbsp; Not sure what I was so afraid of, but now it's done and hung and makes me smile whenever I look in the room.&nbsp;&nbsp; And DH is even being sweet and puts the screen up at night.Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-90760625358911339522015-02-24T19:41:00.001-08:002015-02-24T19:41:14.490-08:00A Very Fun and Productive WeekendEach February for the last 9 years I've attended a quilt retreat in Phoenix hosted by a group of ladies from the About.com quilt forum.&nbsp; It is a wonderful time of laughter, visiting, and sewing.&nbsp; I start preparing for the retreat around Christmas time, often putting together kits to work on while I'm there.&nbsp; I like working on kits&nbsp;because all I have to do&nbsp;is sew.&nbsp; I don't have to think too hard or worry about following instructions or cutting fabrics.&nbsp; I do all the prep work,&nbsp;planning, and cutting ahead of time.&nbsp;&nbsp;I worked on 3 kits while I was there, finishing&nbsp;up one&nbsp;that I started at home, completing another, and constructing the blocks on the 3rd.&nbsp; All 3 are now finished tops.<br /><br />The first is a modified shadow box.&nbsp; I had seen the pattern in a Connecting Threads catalog.&nbsp; I realized it was very similar to the floating shadow box I had previously made except instead of a square in 2 corners, it has a small triangle.&nbsp; I made the block by sewing the black strips to the center, then adding the triangles using the Perfect Corner ruler.&nbsp; It went together very quickly.&nbsp; I love optical illusions and this really looks fun.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYFShXcI1PU/VO09TYtmAsI/AAAAAAAABEU/M7pj71CMS_k/s1600/shadow%2Bblock%2B3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYFShXcI1PU/VO09TYtmAsI/AAAAAAAABEU/M7pj71CMS_k/s1600/shadow%2Bblock%2B3d.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3-D Blocks</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The idea for this quilt came from a friend who also attends the AZ retreat.&nbsp; She had made the pattern using hot pink and blue with a large focus print&nbsp;which was very striking.&nbsp; The pattern is from Quilterscache.com, called Snowball and Nine Patch, which&nbsp;is exactly what it is made of.&nbsp;&nbsp;I sewed this one entirely at the retreat, taking about 6 hours.&nbsp; The secondary pattern is wonderful.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZDQ4ZMfyvk/VO09SIdh__I/AAAAAAAABEM/82K_1kvQU-M/s1600/9%2Bpatch%2Band%2Bsnowball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZDQ4ZMfyvk/VO09SIdh__I/AAAAAAAABEM/82K_1kvQU-M/s1600/9%2Bpatch%2Band%2Bsnowball.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The inspiration for this last quilt was from another forum member who had made one in bright colors and photographed it in the sunshine.&nbsp; It's called Twinkling Stars and her photo did twinkle.&nbsp; I had to give it a try in novelties.&nbsp; At first I was going to use different fabrics of the same color in each star, but decided that would be&nbsp;distract too much&nbsp;from the star pattern.&nbsp; As well as very time consuming to select the fabrics.&nbsp; So I stuck with&nbsp;one fabric for each block, using fabrics with small scale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nI9xrijkqPk/VO09VNvXa5I/AAAAAAAABEc/KXwCoaaW5wk/s1600/twinkling%2Bstar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nI9xrijkqPk/VO09VNvXa5I/AAAAAAAABEc/KXwCoaaW5wk/s1600/twinkling%2Bstar.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I get a lot of teasing at the retreat about finishing so many quilts, but I really am cheating.&nbsp; By having all the prep work done ahead and using relatively simple patterns it makes my job very easy and frustration free.&nbsp; And then I can focus on enjoying the time visiting with friends.&nbsp; The weekend always goes too fast despite staying up late.&nbsp; I can't wait until next year.﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿</div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-33515650025489344692015-02-10T13:03:00.002-08:002015-02-10T13:03:23.674-08:00Getting Rid of Some of those ScrapsWhenever I'm cutting fabric for an I Spy quilt, I try to make the best use of the fabric while still getting the picture more or less centered in the block.&nbsp; The result is quite a few scraps.&nbsp; I don't keep very small pieces but if they are at least 1" wide and 4" long, I toss them in a small scrap basket.&nbsp; When it's over flowing (about&nbsp;twice a year) I go through and sort the scraps.&nbsp; 4.5" x 3" or 2.5" I set aside.&nbsp; The smaller pieces I make into&nbsp;piano key strips.&nbsp; I've used A LOT of piano keys over the years.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TgbStpI2Eo/VNlr5SbHkFI/AAAAAAAAA_o/TJfDwTu9y98/s1600/20150209_201243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TgbStpI2Eo/VNlr5SbHkFI/AAAAAAAAA_o/TJfDwTu9y98/s1600/20150209_201243.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting Close</td></tr></tbody></table>Most often the piano key strips&nbsp;end up as borders, frequently mixed with some coordinating TOT's.&nbsp; Typically the smallest pieces are 1.5" x 3.5" though sometimes I'll put 2 pieces together if I just can't stand to throw them away.&nbsp; This example shows some of the wedges left from using the tri-rec rulers.&nbsp; The narrow little pieces can be interesting.&nbsp; I don't trim before hand but just start sewing.&nbsp; I try to keep the pieces roughly straight with the top edge even.&nbsp; Once I have a strip sewn about 3' long, I'll press and trim even on both sides.&nbsp; Typically they are 3.5" wide.&nbsp; I'll roll then up and store until needed for a border or a pattern.<br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJkf8sEI1Aw/VNlr5ROsTNI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PTrBHU4GKCs/s1600/20150209_201546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJkf8sEI1Aw/VNlr5ROsTNI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PTrBHU4GKCs/s1600/20150209_201546.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>One of my favorite patterns to use up these strips is the Frugal Patch from quilterschache.com.&nbsp; I modified it so that the piano keys are the sashing rather than the center of the block.&nbsp; This allows me to put a novelty in the very middle.&nbsp; I've made this quilt several times now.&nbsp; I also used it to illustrate a square in a square in a previous post.&nbsp; In this example I also used novelties in the setting triangles and mixed in the narrow border colors in the piano keys (orange and yellow).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VC1SuMF9rKM/VMB607diAjI/AAAAAAAAAfk/fkScJS39vhc/s1600/Frugal%2Bpatch%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VC1SuMF9rKM/VMB607diAjI/AAAAAAAAAfk/fkScJS39vhc/s1600/Frugal%2Bpatch%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frugal Patch</td></tr></tbody></table>This version of Frugal Patch uses pink TOT piano keys left over from another&nbsp;quilt.&nbsp; The color choices and the black setting triangles make it look completely different.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C92lcwBpvpE/VMB6OCPNC7I/AAAAAAAAAbo/S0SUPG3MY3Q/s1600/frugal%2Bpatch%2BPink%2Band%2Bblack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C92lcwBpvpE/VMB6OCPNC7I/AAAAAAAAAbo/S0SUPG3MY3Q/s1600/frugal%2Bpatch%2BPink%2Band%2Bblack.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></div><br />This&nbsp;quilt is made almost entirely of piano keys.&nbsp; It was inspired by the pattern Sugar Pop N Change by Melisa Corry of Happy Quilting.&nbsp; I was using a bigger scrap basket back then.&nbsp; I think this was at least a year's worth of scraps.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ly5JudGY4c/VMB6M5OuZVI/AAAAAAAAAbg/-qpB0zwPXbQ/s1600/stacks%2Bof%2Bcoins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ly5JudGY4c/VMB6M5OuZVI/AAAAAAAAAbg/-qpB0zwPXbQ/s1600/stacks%2Bof%2Bcoins.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lmx_Y5D5YA/VMB7Li3_vPI/AAAAAAAAAhc/jlW6auzKmMs/s1600/scrap%2Bx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lmx_Y5D5YA/VMB7Li3_vPI/AAAAAAAAAhc/jlW6auzKmMs/s1600/scrap%2Bx.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a>This quilt is also made of piano keys but I cut them into blocks on a diagonal and added blue triangles on the corners.&nbsp; My friend Misha from About.com's quilt forum suggested this when I was asked for alternate idea to just using them in borders.&nbsp; The pattern came from Quiltville.com.&nbsp; Funny thing is I just realized I had printed that pattern out years and years ago, but didn't realize it was the same one until just now.&nbsp; Anyway the blue triangles got kind of lost in among the piano keys on this so I added the narrow white sashing and tiny corner stones and some more blue triangles in the borders.&nbsp; I liked the result so much I kept this one for myself, it's hanging in my office at work.&nbsp; This quilt was a series of happy experiments.&nbsp; Some times they work, sometimes they don't.&nbsp; This one did.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGz9Efh8INo/VMB7NEMZgoI/AAAAAAAAAhk/Gnwl_pl5CmE/s1600/black%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bladders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wGz9Efh8INo/VMB7NEMZgoI/AAAAAAAAAhk/Gnwl_pl5CmE/s1600/black%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bladders.jpg" height="320" width="279" /></a>Another quilt made Almost Entirely from piano keys is this Ladder Quilt (pattern by A Quilter's &nbsp;Lumberyard). The original pattern called for a 2 x 4 pieces in the center but I already had a bunch of smaller pieces so I sorted them into color groups and used them instead.&nbsp; With the piano key border this one used a lot of scraps too.&nbsp; Looking at this one now I think it needed something to unify it better but I just couldn't come up with a border that worked.&nbsp; So it got the piano keys treatment.&nbsp; The little boy who received this quilt had just gotten twin siblings.&nbsp; His dad tells me he still plays with the quilt and it is one of his special bed time blankets.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNHl5kmnIBw/VMB7QaWE-gI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Ck2FPYNJLbY/s1600/stripes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNHl5kmnIBw/VMB7QaWE-gI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Ck2FPYNJLbY/s1600/stripes.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a>For the&nbsp;scraps 2.5 or&nbsp;3" x 4.5" I've made a column pattern (see my first post).&nbsp; Here is another more recent example.&nbsp; This one is much busier and I'm not sure but I think I like my earlier effort better.&nbsp; The striped fabric in the sashing is too much, but I had been trying to use that in a quilt somehow and I was determined.&nbsp; I need to give up and just making binding out of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For 3" x 4.5" scraps I've used this woven pattern several&nbsp;times using different colored sashing strips.&nbsp; It goes together quickly but I discovered getting that 1/4" seam scant is very important or you don't end up with square blocks.&nbsp; And there are more piano keys - eeck!</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7SnQPTlcB48/VMB6hDmdp9I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/IryObP2CAHI/s1600/woven%2BJack%27s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7SnQPTlcB48/VMB6hDmdp9I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/IryObP2CAHI/s1600/woven%2BJack%27s.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq-s-y_tsR0/VMB6B0bNm7I/AAAAAAAAAac/BBhyXbdLiq0/s1600/woven%2BPink%2Band%2Bpurple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq-s-y_tsR0/VMB6B0bNm7I/AAAAAAAAAac/BBhyXbdLiq0/s1600/woven%2BPink%2Band%2Bpurple.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This recent quilt was made from 2.5" x 4.5" scraps and 2.5" white TOT squares.&nbsp; The pattern was a free gift in a mailer from American Patchwork &amp; Quilting Magazine, designed by Kathie Holland.&nbsp; I threw the advertisement away but kept the pattern.&nbsp; It was very fun to do and I'm itching to do another one in the near future.&nbsp; I did cut a few additional 2 x 4's because I wanted some brighter colors but it sure went together fast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-svsq1x9Tf8E/VMB71Bkj2ZI/AAAAAAAAAk0/QOcdOjFgtF4/s1600/2%2Bby%2B4%2Bscraps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-svsq1x9Tf8E/VMB71Bkj2ZI/AAAAAAAAAk0/QOcdOjFgtF4/s1600/2%2Bby%2B4%2Bscraps.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now and Later scraps</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Overall, using up scraps is a big part of quilting.&nbsp; We all hate to throw those little bits away.&nbsp; I've tried to use some discipline and only keep the ones I know I'll use.&nbsp; Mostly.&nbsp; I still have those 3 bags of bonus triangles remaining after my Triangle Madness.&nbsp; Someday inspiration will strike and we'll all be amazed.&nbsp; Ha.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6EKOFUPeUhI/VMB74Y3TeoI/AAAAAAAAAlE/2lutZd_VNNI/s1600/Tiny%2BTriangles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6EKOFUPeUhI/VMB74Y3TeoI/AAAAAAAAAlE/2lutZd_VNNI/s1600/Tiny%2BTriangles.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triangle Madness</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿</div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-11042432134803850282015-02-09T18:08:00.000-08:002015-02-09T18:08:04.929-08:00Fun with Colors, Fun Fun FunI've referred to this planned post so many times previously I figured I better stop talking about it and just do it.&nbsp; A little over a year ago I started my usual push to get kits put together for the quilting retreat in AZ.&nbsp; I had collected a few ideas for zigzag and chevron quilts and, as previously mentioned, one thing leads to another in my world.&nbsp; What resulted is a group of quilts that turned out so bright and happy that I just love to look at them.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0SR5CWyjLE/VMB6H10I--I/AAAAAAAAAbI/Ta3VVaa0Wzk/s1600/diamond%2Bdonation%2BI%2Bspy%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0SR5CWyjLE/VMB6H10I--I/AAAAAAAAAbI/Ta3VVaa0Wzk/s1600/diamond%2Bdonation%2BI%2Bspy%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Novelty Diamonds</td></tr></tbody></table>But first I wanted to talk about a couple of earlier quilts that grouped fabrics by color.&nbsp; This particular quilt was inspired by my quilting friend Pirate.&nbsp; As I recall we were talking on the about.com quilt forum about using the various rulers purchased over the years.&nbsp; Shelley had used her tri-rec ruler (or similar) to make a white and yellow quilt of diamonds.&nbsp; I got to thinking, hmmm, I could do that with novelties.&nbsp; This is the result.&nbsp; The point of the quilt was the diamonds but I wanted to maximize the number of fabrics so instead of using one fabric for the top and the bottom I tried to match the colors.&nbsp; Some are better than others but it still turned out well.&nbsp; The only problem was all the weird scrap shapes left over.&nbsp; I did eventually put them together to make some interesting piano keys.&nbsp; I like the overall effect but it was a little fiddly to make so it probably won't be repeated.&nbsp; I donated this one for a United Way raffle at work and was pleased that a good friend won it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObLuiOuihks/VMB6E2Hf36I/AAAAAAAAAa4/wZpKq1QMs_s/s1600/zigzag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ObLuiOuihks/VMB6E2Hf36I/AAAAAAAAAa4/wZpKq1QMs_s/s1600/zigzag.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiggly Colors</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;This was a zigzag quilt inspired by a pattern someone posted on About.com's quilt forum where the zigzags were supposed to be snakes.&nbsp; The pattern even had snake heads appliqued.&nbsp; I didn't go that far but I did&nbsp; like the idea of grouping the colors.&nbsp; I ran out of the border fabric, thus the clipped corners.&nbsp; This one seems too busy to me now and the border didn't add anything.&nbsp; The later efforts work much better.&nbsp; (Note, the original pattern is Wiggly Worms from Country Woman magazine).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuSKbUKOYhk/VMB7buZLSpI/AAAAAAAAAis/3sjfYRfGNTY/s1600/jelly%2Bbeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuSKbUKOYhk/VMB7buZLSpI/AAAAAAAAAis/3sjfYRfGNTY/s1600/jelly%2Bbeans.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jelly Beans</td></tr></tbody></table>Four Patch Fun.&nbsp; It isn't zigzag or chevron but it does group the fabrics by color.&nbsp; This quilt was very fun to make.&nbsp; And it turned out great.&nbsp; Not only did I match the novelty blocks, I also went through my tone on tone stash to find fabrics to match.&nbsp; The black and white 9 patch really makes this quilt very striking.&nbsp; My only regret is that the person who I gave it to does not want to use it but wants to "save it".&nbsp; I think they were hanging it on the wall, so at least the little one can look at it.&nbsp; Oh well, once it's given away it's not my worry any more but I do wish&nbsp;they would use it.&nbsp; Maybe their little girl will be strong willed enough to take it down on her own.&nbsp; The original pattern was designed by Melissa Corry at happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kS_DHnpgIm0/VMB7qBH1B9I/AAAAAAAAAj8/w2FJbP30QzE/s1600/rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kS_DHnpgIm0/VMB7qBH1B9I/AAAAAAAAAj8/w2FJbP30QzE/s1600/rainbow.jpg" height="254" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lumberyard Challenge Color Stripes</td></tr></tbody></table><br />More 4 patch fun.&nbsp; You have to look closely but this quilt is also made with 4 patches.&nbsp; 4 patches are so forgiving.&nbsp; The only tricky part was making sure I got the TOT colors in the right place.&nbsp; The design wall was a lifesaver on this one.&nbsp; I made this quilt as part of a challenge for the 2014 AZ retreat and it won first place!&nbsp; Of course everyone knew which quilt was mine because I<u> am</u> the official queen of novelties.&nbsp; The colors are so bright and cheerful and the pattern was very easy.&nbsp;&nbsp;No idea where this idea came from, I think I was thinking of some other way to use tone on tones with the novelties and the rules of the challenge were it had to use 4x4 and 2x2 pieces.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZmvKcIq0Gk/VMB7oqjXHBI/AAAAAAAAAj0/ZqAaCvKAoF8/s1600/zigzag%2Brainblow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZmvKcIq0Gk/VMB7oqjXHBI/AAAAAAAAAj0/ZqAaCvKAoF8/s1600/zigzag%2Brainblow.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Novelty Chevron</td></tr></tbody></table>Chevrons are so popular everywhere lately.&nbsp; Clothes, home dec, quilts.&nbsp; The idea for this one came from Endeavor by Freckled Whimsy.&nbsp; I wanted to try using&nbsp;those silly tri-rec rulers again (more weird scraps).&nbsp; I didn't have enough orange to make an orange section but the yellow and red add some warm colors.&nbsp; Sewing this was a little strange because I was combining two large triangles before adding the spikey edges.&nbsp; The tri-rec rulers aren't really designed for that, so I had to improvise a bit.&nbsp; And let go my mild OCD tendencies and just live with the less than exactness.<br /><br /><br /><br />﻿<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmF0evkMF9M/VMB7s56CDKI/AAAAAAAAAkM/hPnZx54SdBA/s1600/stairsteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmF0evkMF9M/VMB7s56CDKI/AAAAAAAAAkM/hPnZx54SdBA/s1600/stairsteps.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Stair Steps</td></tr></tbody></table>Very fun and very easy Color Stair Steps (inspired by a Me &amp; My Sister Pattern).&nbsp; I used some of my pre-cut 4.5" squares but trimmed off an inch to add the white sashing on one edge.&nbsp; I hated throwing them away&nbsp; but 1" really isn't enough to save in my world.&nbsp; And I didn't want to cut a bunch of new rectangles, so in the interest of saving time I just trimmed what I had.&nbsp; I'm coming to the conclusion that I like white with the novelties, maybe even better than black.&nbsp; Gasp.&nbsp; There for a while I was using so much black Moda marble I should have bought a bolt.&nbsp; I've used&nbsp;white&nbsp;TOT or small speckles (when I can find them) and like how they make the colors sparkle.&nbsp; The white stripes in this quilt are only 3/4" finished.<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uud8TI8Wzrk/VMB7wfbW8uI/AAAAAAAAAkc/oQrPriOhGV8/s1600/chevron%2Brainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uud8TI8Wzrk/VMB7wfbW8uI/AAAAAAAAAkc/oQrPriOhGV8/s1600/chevron%2Brainbow.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HST Chevron</td></tr></tbody></table>This last chevron quilt uses large half square triangles with a center black strip.&nbsp; Initially it was 3/4" finished but visually that was too large so I cut them down.&nbsp; I've been neglecting my white novelties since I've been doing so many quilts with white sashing so this allowed me to use some of them without impacting the pattern.&nbsp; This also stretched my OCD a little as the points on the black strips are clipped but I'm sure it only bothers me.&nbsp; The pattern was fast, but I do have a bunch of large triangles now, waiting to be used in another pattern.&nbsp; The original idea came from an on-line pattern from staff of Material Girls Quilt Shop.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Phew, lots of pictures in this post.&nbsp; I've put sticky notes in my scrap book to mark which quilts I've not included on the blog yet and&nbsp;today a bunch can come off.&nbsp; Hope you enjoyed.&nbsp; Now you know why I got so excited about finding 3 new orange fabrics.&nbsp;&nbsp;Still need&nbsp;to find some purples and oranges that don't have a Halloween theme.&nbsp; The hunt is on.<br /><br /><img height="75" src="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-SmF0evkMF9M%2FVMB7s56CDKI%2FAAAAAAAAAkM%2FhPnZx54SdBA%2Fs1600%2Fstairsteps.jpg&amp;container=blogger&amp;gadget=a&amp;rewriteMime=image%2F*" style="left: 406.95px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2154.69px;" width="96" />Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-22632611056935492242015-02-07T20:43:00.000-08:002015-02-07T20:43:08.387-08:00It Always HappensI've noticed something about myself.&nbsp; I make a bunch of I Spy quilts, use up a good amount of fabric.&nbsp; I'm so proud of myself, using my stash.&nbsp; Look, the baskets are easier to put things away.&nbsp; I don't have to push quite so hard to squeeze the fabric back in.&nbsp; I tell myself what a good girl I am.<br /><br />And then what happens?&nbsp; I go shopping.&nbsp; I don't ever seem to buy fabric and then start sewing.&nbsp;&nbsp; It always seems to be the reverse.&nbsp; I go on a sewing spree, and then a shopping spree.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; I don't know exactly.&nbsp;&nbsp; Maybe I'm excited because I'm sewing and having fun.&nbsp; As I'm sewing I think&nbsp;gee wouldn't it be nice to have more orange or red fabric for the next quilt.&nbsp; Or wow, I'm almost completely out of bananas or zebras, I can't run out of zebras!&nbsp; Then I find myself in one (or more) of my lovely LQS's and see something I've not seen before.<br /><br />It happened today.&nbsp; Out running errands with my dear husband, on our way to Cabela's and he asks if I'd like to stop by a fabric store while we're out.&nbsp; What a sweetheart.&nbsp; Of course we are going to Cabela's for him.&nbsp; Oh well, since we're in the area and I haven't stopped in for a couple of months, I'll take a look.&nbsp; Seriously, I thought I'd just pop in, probably not see anything new and we'd be on our way.&nbsp; Silly Silly Silly!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qR-usm1vcMY/VNbi4XDycrI/AAAAAAAAA9g/37W_NpJjYZs/s1600/20150207_220450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qR-usm1vcMY/VNbi4XDycrI/AAAAAAAAA9g/37W_NpJjYZs/s1600/20150207_220450.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>I found several oranges and reds, a couple of yellows.&nbsp; And aren't those toucans just too cute.&nbsp; I don't have any toucans in my stash.&nbsp; Or I didn't.&nbsp; And the ABC fabric will make a great (and appropriate) border.&nbsp; I've got that snake fabric in red already but I really do want more oranges.&nbsp; They add a great splash mixed in with all the blues and blacks.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Pkd5B7JFi8/VNbjTSvjtCI/AAAAAAAAA9o/WJvub0mR-cE/s1600/20150207_220337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Pkd5B7JFi8/VNbjTSvjtCI/AAAAAAAAA9o/WJvub0mR-cE/s1600/20150207_220337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Pkd5B7JFi8/VNbjTSvjtCI/AAAAAAAAA9o/WJvub0mR-cE/s1600/20150207_220337.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />I love the red cars and the balls.&nbsp; Not sure how many kids will be able to identify darts, but that's ok.&nbsp; Every quilt needs at least a couple of areas of red.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ILn2W9Vw8p8/VNbmI6XyJdI/AAAAAAAAA-A/UTM7awfopM4/s1600/20150207_220329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ILn2W9Vw8p8/VNbmI6XyJdI/AAAAAAAAA-A/UTM7awfopM4/s1600/20150207_220329.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Did I mention I'm getting low on Zebras?&nbsp; And cars.&nbsp; Seriously I am getting very low on cars.&nbsp; Love the small scale, they will work well in patterns where I need small scattered prints.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rockets are great too.&nbsp; R for Rockets.&nbsp; The letter R is harder than you'd think.&nbsp; Raccoons and Roosters are good, but I like the Rockets a lot.&nbsp; And they are on yellow, definitely can use a few more yellow fabrics.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I'm standing at the cutting counter, I turn around and see a southwestern themed display.&nbsp; I've been looking for pistol fabric for years, ever since my husband wanted me to make a quilt for a friend from his air gun club.&nbsp; And look there!&nbsp; Pistols and rifles.&nbsp; How about that?&nbsp; And I live in Texas so everyone wants horses and cowboys.&nbsp; Aren't those bucking broncos wonderful!&nbsp; And I've never seen branding iron fabric!&nbsp; And bonus, I've been looking for a 4.5" wide ruler and they had one of those too.&nbsp; My frequent buyer card is all full!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3r6hiQib93Q/VNbj0RkWzMI/AAAAAAAAA9w/SsTaMZXiWf8/s1600/20150207_220846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3r6hiQib93Q/VNbj0RkWzMI/AAAAAAAAA9w/SsTaMZXiWf8/s1600/20150207_220846.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As soon as we got home all the fabric went in the washing machine.&nbsp; I've now cut a strip off the short end of each fabric using my brand new ruler and made 4.5" squares. They are&nbsp;filed away in my trusty Art Bin, the fabric folded and put in my wire baskets.&nbsp; Baskets that are pretty full again.&nbsp; Once again I've used a bunch of my novelty stash and then within an hour restocked completely.&nbsp; Probably more than the 4 quilts that I've made in the past few weeks used up.&nbsp; Ah well, I know they won't go to waste.&nbsp; There will be more kids and more quilts down the road.&nbsp; What a fun day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-56713064580558010642015-02-07T19:38:00.001-08:002015-02-09T19:01:55.765-08:00One Thing Leads to AnotherOne of the reasons I finally started this blog (after many years of suggestions from quilting friends) is that I was in a quilting funk.&nbsp; I just wasn't excited about anything, even though I have a lovely new quilting room.&nbsp; I thought if I started reviewing old quilts that I might get inspired.&nbsp; And I did.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dXCeIIPlPR0/VMB6uNbjhtI/AAAAAAAAAec/7RszF91umH0/s1600/lattice%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dXCeIIPlPR0/VMB6uNbjhtI/AAAAAAAAAec/7RszF91umH0/s1600/lattice%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>As I was going through the recent post on fun with triangles I realized I hadn't used that new method of making corner triangles&nbsp;on any of the patterns that use 4.5" blocks (leaning stars for example).&nbsp; I wanted to make a quilt for a little 3 year old red haired cutie whose mom sits near me at work.&nbsp; She (the little girl) loves animals, purple, and dancing.&nbsp; I knew I wanted to pack in as many girly fabrics and animals as possible and so the 4.5" pre-cuts would be a good choice.&nbsp; I'd also seen a version of this quilt shown at the right, made with sashing.&nbsp; It really emphasized the X configuration and I wanted to try it. <br /><br /><br /><br />﻿﻿I decided&nbsp;to track how much time it takes to make this quilt.&nbsp; Folks frequently ask me how long it takes to make my quilts but I've been bad at making notes.&nbsp; So here was an opportunity.&nbsp; The results?&nbsp; Just picking out the fabrics took an hour, including pulling the pre-cut squares.&nbsp; Cutting the background triangles and the additional squares took another 30 minutes.&nbsp; This would have been longer except that about 75% of the squares were pre-cut.&nbsp; Marking the sewing lines using the Perfect Corner Ruler took 30 minutes, sewing the triangles took an hour, pressing and trimming the squares took 30 min.&nbsp; Deciding on the exact layout added another 30, so I'm up to 4 hours at this point.&nbsp; ﻿﻿<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1hASRoR99eg/VNWoPnz-3cI/AAAAAAAAA7A/dWnO98MxK5o/s1600/DSC01886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1hASRoR99eg/VNWoPnz-3cI/AAAAAAAAA7A/dWnO98MxK5o/s1600/DSC01886.JPG" height="200" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preliminary Layout</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Deciding the layout took some extra time on this one.&nbsp; Initially I was going to do a random layout similar to the quilt above.&nbsp; I sewed all the corner triangles on, trimmed the blocks, then&nbsp;put it back up on the design wall.&nbsp; Standing in the doorway to my sewing room I decided I really wasn't excited about the random arrangement.&nbsp; It just seemed kind of spotty with the small 4" squares.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jL3KranWV1Q/VNWoQ0dHsJI/AAAAAAAAA7I/l7vuEvEG_uE/s1600/DSC01887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jL3KranWV1Q/VNWoQ0dHsJI/AAAAAAAAA7I/l7vuEvEG_uE/s1600/DSC01887.JPG" height="200" width="176" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd Layout</td></tr></tbody></table>What to do?&nbsp; At that point it was late, so I went to bed to sleep on it.&nbsp; As I was trying to go to sleep I thought, Aha, how about grouping the colors?&nbsp; I done this on several other quilts lately (future post on those later).&nbsp;&nbsp;The larger blocks of color unify the quilt and give more emphasis to the pattern and this quilt needed something.&nbsp; I almost jumped up to go back to the room and try it, but restrained myself until morning.&nbsp; It <u>was</u> very late.&nbsp; The next day I re-arranged and really liked the result.&nbsp; Even better I didn't have to replace any of the squares.&nbsp; They fit into color groups of 4 pretty well.<br /><br /><br />As frequently happens, one idea leads to another.&nbsp;&nbsp;I was looking at the blocs on the design wall and remembered seeing a quilt several years ago with X's and O's.&nbsp; I flipped a few squares and Viola!&nbsp; Hugs and Kisses.&nbsp; Definitely something the little girl will like.&nbsp; She's&nbsp;almost 4 years old so I wanted the quilt to be larger than&nbsp;my usual&nbsp;baby quilt size.&nbsp; I added the&nbsp;extra precut squares that I had pulled at first but didn't need for the center of the quilt.&nbsp; Fortunately I hadn't put them away yet.&nbsp; I love how this turned out and it used a bunch of precut squares.&nbsp; Oh and the grand total time spent&nbsp;(before quilting) was&nbsp;between 7&nbsp;&amp; 8&nbsp;hours (I forgot to note my start time a couple of evenings).&nbsp; Those pre-cut squares save so much time, both&nbsp;time to cut and time to re-fold and put away the fabrics.&nbsp; Quilting and binding typically take about an hour each, so my previous estimates of 10 hours is about right.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BN529T1me90/VNWoNzs0vLI/AAAAAAAAA64/M3Nf9ZCVhgo/s1600/Hugs%2Band%2BKisses%2Bblock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BN529T1me90/VNWoNzs0vLI/AAAAAAAAA64/M3Nf9ZCVhgo/s1600/Hugs%2Band%2BKisses%2Bblock.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs and Kisses Color Block</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't wait to give this one away.&nbsp; It's turned out so well and I'm sure the little girl is going to love it.&nbsp; It has lots and lots of animals, including a unicorn.&nbsp; It even has her name (Georgia) and where she lives (Texas).&nbsp; Hopefully I'll have a picture of her playing with it soon.﻿</div><br />Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-13851309055467420732015-01-30T07:48:00.000-08:002015-01-30T07:48:48.824-08:00Variations on a Theme of .... SnowballsFor some reason I seem to be finding several ideas lately involving snowball blocks.&nbsp; Not sure why, but they keep coming up.&nbsp; So I thought I'd share these new ones as well as some old ones.&nbsp; Snowball blocks lend themselves well to novelty quilts because of the nice big area to showcase the fabric.&nbsp; I didn't like them all that much until I discovered my trusty Perfect Corner Ruler (no affiliation, etc. etc.) but I am liking them quite a bit now.<br /><br />This pattern gets lost a little bit in with the novelty fabrics.&nbsp; It shows the fabrics well, but you can't really see the sense of the pattern.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-QCBjA7LAM/VMB6Rxr4NYI/AAAAAAAAAcA/zWDUNl0t1BA/s1600/snowballs%2BMason%27s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-QCBjA7LAM/VMB6Rxr4NYI/AAAAAAAAAcA/zWDUNl0t1BA/s1600/snowballs%2BMason%27s.JPG" height="320" width="265" /></a></div><br />This one works a little better, but still not my favorite.&nbsp; I think the blue is too distracting in the alternate blocks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ48ETsEB3U/VMB6Dh7KOaI/AAAAAAAAAaw/CDssKzFSNc4/s1600/snowballs%2Band%2Bsquares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ48ETsEB3U/VMB6Dh7KOaI/AAAAAAAAAaw/CDssKzFSNc4/s1600/snowballs%2Band%2Bsquares.jpg" height="320" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is especially fun and even a little difficult to see the snowball block.&nbsp; I had a little trouble picking out the two background/sashing colors.&nbsp; I needed enough contrast with the novelties so that the interconnecting ribbon effect would be easily seen.&nbsp; Red and blue worked very well and I love the optical illusion.&nbsp; 6" snowball blocks with are alternated with sashed 4" squares.&nbsp; The color placement is very critical.&nbsp; Half of each type of block have red on top and bottom, the other half have blue.&nbsp; By the way, that was the same red and blue from my son's attic window quilt, some 10 years later.&nbsp; And I still didn't like sewing with the poly.&nbsp; Hmmm, I need to make another one of these sometime.&nbsp;&nbsp;I got the idea for this quilt from a pattern by Darlene Jewell-Walhood and modified it for use with novelty fabrics and the size blocks I wanted.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPN1US4HwSk/VMB6lULXRNI/AAAAAAAAAdo/EHcxqWzuO1s/s1600/trellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPN1US4HwSk/VMB6lULXRNI/AAAAAAAAAdo/EHcxqWzuO1s/s1600/trellis.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interlocking Ribbons</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8qsizaWGwSQ/VMrvFAk0z9I/AAAAAAAAAuw/J5Ie0kj0zJo/s1600/beads%2Band%2Bstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8qsizaWGwSQ/VMrvFAk0z9I/AAAAAAAAAuw/J5Ie0kj0zJo/s1600/beads%2Band%2Bstars.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Novelty Beads</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;This is my most recent snowball quilt.&nbsp; It may eventually have a border but I'm still deciding.&nbsp; It is for a friend's first grandchild.&nbsp; I've added pictures of items specific to the mom and dad, but I'm still looking for something related to their college mascot, a lumberjack.&nbsp; The baby isn't due until April so I've still got some time.&nbsp; In a pinch it may get a red and black plaid border.&nbsp; The pattern is very simple, just a basic snowball block set in offset columns.&nbsp; There is a secondary pattern of stars created by the triangles.&nbsp; I'm a little disappointed they don't stand out more.&nbsp; I could have used black triangles, but then I wouldn't have been able to use black novelties which is challenging as I've got more of that color than any other.&nbsp; Still I like how it turned out and it was pretty simple to put together.&nbsp; The hardest part was figuring out how to balance the colors and contrast.<br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is one last snowball quilt, but it really isn't a snowball.&nbsp; The way this is constructed is using squares of fabric folded and sewn into the seams.&nbsp; When the block is pressed open it creates the squares with little pockets.&nbsp; I didn't enjoy sewing it very much, mostly because I had to use lots of pins and kept sticking myself, but it does make a fun quilt for a little one with those 3 dimensional squares.&nbsp; This quilt pattern called Hugs and Kisses came from a wonderful book called Picture Play Quilts by Ami Simms.&nbsp; I <u>love</u> this book and plan to talk more about it in a future post about Influences.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7uU1UaH26JI/VMB6x11-YYI/AAAAAAAAAfE/LgAaeeV0MyE/s1600/Hugs%2B%26%2BKisses%2BRachele%27s%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7uU1UaH26JI/VMB6x11-YYI/AAAAAAAAAfE/LgAaeeV0MyE/s1600/Hugs%2B%26%2BKisses%2BRachele%27s%2B.jpg" height="320" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs and Kisses</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vLJi3mNjVGk/VMrxCqgKJsI/AAAAAAAAAu8/593z0ZUMx5U/s1600/nine%2Bpatch%2Band%2Bsnowballs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vLJi3mNjVGk/VMrxCqgKJsI/AAAAAAAAAu8/593z0ZUMx5U/s1600/nine%2Bpatch%2Band%2Bsnowballs.JPG" height="200" width="151" /></a>All these quilts&nbsp;give a good overview of how versatile snowball blocks are and how well they work with novelty fabrics.&nbsp; I have another idea floating around using 9 patches and snowballs&nbsp; (from Marcia Hahn's QuiltersCache.com) that I'll post once it's sewn.&nbsp; Right now it's only an EQ file.&nbsp; Always plenty of ideas still floating around in my head and on my computer.&nbsp; Probably why I don't have all that many repeated patterns, I haven't run out of ideas yet. At least for quilts.&nbsp; For dinner, I have no ideas at all.</div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-23094198923941652312015-01-29T18:02:00.002-08:002015-01-29T18:54:47.196-08:00Square in a Square patterns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As I was working on the 9 patch with setting triangles quilt (Crossroad to Jericho), I realized it was a type of square in a square pattern.&nbsp; I've&nbsp;done several&nbsp;variations of that pattern over the years as it works well with novelty fabrics.<br /><br />Initially I did not like sewing square in a square blocks.&nbsp; I tried measuring the corner triangles and cutting to size, but they always seemed to be to small or not straight enough and the resulting blocks were never square or the same size.&nbsp; I then tried paper piecing them.&nbsp; I didn't like that much either; it seemed silly to be pulling paper off of a block that only had 5 pieces.&nbsp; Wasted effort as well as wasted paper.&nbsp; The next trial was the paper piecing method that uses freezer paper.&nbsp; Well, that was a little better but still why did I need to use paper piecing on a pretty simple block?&nbsp; That's when I decided to just sew those corner triangles a little larger than needed, then trim them down.&nbsp; Viola!&nbsp; No paper piecing, no extra math.&nbsp; I&nbsp;could use&nbsp;my precut 4.5" pieces as the center square, add corner triangles, and&nbsp;then trim.&nbsp; I marked the full size pattern with a 4" finished center on a piece of acrylic and cut it as a template.&nbsp; Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the edges even or smooth.&nbsp; Someday I'll find a company who can make custom templates for me, but for now I've marked a ruler and use that.<br />﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxRsbpADrzg/VMB7G2awkeI/AAAAAAAAAhE/J9Gd36vc5-I/s1600/girls%2Bsquare%2Bin%2Bsquare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxRsbpADrzg/VMB7G2awkeI/AAAAAAAAAhE/J9Gd36vc5-I/s1600/girls%2Bsquare%2Bin%2Bsquare.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a></div><br />This SIAS with log cabin sashing was made using white background novelties to create the corners.&nbsp; The centers are my standard 4" finished.&nbsp; I was trying to use up some of the 3 giant bags of strings I've accumulated and decided on adding purple, green and yellow strings instead of sashing.&nbsp; A piano key border also uses some more of those strings.&nbsp; Note, it didn't even make a dent in those bags.&nbsp; <br /><br />Purple and green is one of my favorite color combinations ever since my grandmother told me they didn't go together when she was teaching me to sew as a child.&nbsp; I remember responding that there were purple flowers with green leaves so they must go together.&nbsp; In this instance the purple and greens I had needed some punch.&nbsp; Yellow and purple are complements on the standard color wheel and I thought the yellow added the right accent.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I want to mention something about using novelty fabrics in a quilt, they can be a true focus or just incidental to the design of the quilt.&nbsp; This quilt&nbsp;illustrates the latter.&nbsp; The actual pattern is really the focus of this quilt.&nbsp; Using novelty fabrics in the center of the SIAS is just an added bonus.&nbsp; I could have used a single focus fabric with white TOT corners and it really wouldn't change this quilt much at all.&nbsp; I'm kind of forcing novelty fabrics into the pattern rather than the pattern and setting highlighting the novelty fabrics.&nbsp; Sometimes that "forcing" has worked out better than others.&nbsp; In the purple and green quilt, I think it worked pretty well.</div><br />﻿﻿This twisted square in a square focuses more on the novelty fabrics.&nbsp; You could use the same focus fabric in each square of this pattern but it really does showcase the center square.&nbsp; There isn't much to the pattern without good focus fabrics.&nbsp; For this pattern starching the triangles was very important.&nbsp; The pattern instructions by MaryQuilts.com suggested cutting 2 rectangles and then slicing them on the diagonal.&nbsp; They were a little oversize so that you need to trim.&nbsp; Again, I marked a ruler with the exact placement of the center square&nbsp; so that they would be consistent.&nbsp; Selecting a number of background&nbsp; colors was a little bit of a challenge.&nbsp; It turned out pretty well, but I probably won't do this one again any time soon.&nbsp; I didn't like how much of the long pointy triangles were waste when I trimmed.<br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biCZz-JW_nQ/VMB6cHUL_NI/AAAAAAAAAcw/j5Alp2vWfEE/s1600/twisted%2Bsquares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biCZz-JW_nQ/VMB6cHUL_NI/AAAAAAAAAcw/j5Alp2vWfEE/s1600/twisted%2Bsquares.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisted Squares</td></tr></tbody></table>Tumbling blocks and Square in a Square?&nbsp; Yes, it is but you have to look closely.&nbsp;&nbsp;The color placement of the background fabrics fools the eye and the&nbsp;tone on tone fabrics camouflage the seams between the SIAS blocks.&nbsp; I decided that I didn't want to do a traditional border but I did want to do something to add a frame, so I switched the white background for a black one.&nbsp; I think I may have run out of the white fabric but I don't remember exactly.&nbsp; We'll just say I did this on purpose.&nbsp; &nbsp;I had a lot of fun with this one and definitely would do it again, especially&nbsp;now that I'm doing this pattern by sewing oversize then trimming.&nbsp; It went together pretty fast and the resulting optical illusion is so fun.&nbsp; And for tumbling blocks you need a variety of fabrics on one side of the block.&nbsp; What is more perfect for a tumbling block quilt than novelty blocks?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GS8fd7rEpiI/VMB7VdBefrI/AAAAAAAAAiM/3HnZkXgePUo/s1600/Beckett's%2BI%2Bspy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GS8fd7rEpiI/VMB7VdBefrI/AAAAAAAAAiM/3HnZkXgePUo/s1600/Beckett%27s%2BI%2Bspy.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tumbling Block Square in a Square</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My opinion of the square in a square pattern has changed significantly over the years.&nbsp; It is the basis of a large number of traditional patterns but I tended to avoid trying them because I didn't enjoy sewing them.&nbsp; I am very glad that I've found a construction method that works so well for me.&nbsp; Now I'm confident that I can sew as many as needed without a lot of pain or fuss. Yay for learning something new that makes sewing less frustrating and more fun!Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-68268878270799878312015-01-27T17:42:00.003-08:002015-01-28T19:43:24.227-08:00From Start to Almost Finished<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--R2tusCt7T0/VMVquqEJOzI/AAAAAAAAArM/rSek0Z2meXs/s1600/DSC01862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--R2tusCt7T0/VMVquqEJOzI/AAAAAAAAArM/rSek0Z2meXs/s1600/DSC01862.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>I recently spent several evenings putting together kits to take to the About.com quilt forum&nbsp; Valley of the Sun yearly retreat (that's a mouthful).&nbsp; I've been going to this gathering of ladies from the quilt forum for several years now and it's one of the highlights of my year.&nbsp; I've discovered I'm more productive if I have kits prepared ahead of time so that when I get there I can focus on sewing (and talking).&nbsp; I finished a couple of mending projects last week and decided I didn't need to take all 5 kits to AZ.&nbsp; I picked out one to do this weekend.<br /><br />The pattern is called Crossroads to Jericho.&nbsp; I had a number of large triangles that were left over from a previous project and this would be a good way to use them up.&nbsp; I drew the quilt in EQ to get an idea of how it would look and the fabric requirement for the background.&nbsp; But the block size in EQ of 12"&nbsp;gave me a strange size for the 9 patch squares.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-He7tk63h94Y/VMVq5nQDoJI/AAAAAAAAAsU/7SEnQUmbs6Y/s1600/more%2Bsniggles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-He7tk63h94Y/VMVq5nQDoJI/AAAAAAAAAsU/7SEnQUmbs6Y/s1600/more%2Bsniggles.JPG" height="320" width="247" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted the 9 patches to be at least 3" finished so that you could identify the pictures in the fabric.&nbsp; I drafted the 9 patch out on paper, then added the corner triangles.&nbsp;&nbsp;The geometry math makes those corner triangles are a <u>very</u> odd size&nbsp;so I transferred the drawing to a ruler to use as a guide.&nbsp; The 9 patch will be made of nice even 3" blocks.&nbsp;&nbsp;The corner triangles&nbsp;will be larger than needed, then trimmed to size.&nbsp; The overall size worked out to 11.25" unfinished, not a standard size but with my special marked ruler, not difficult.﻿</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tZKEUpmLZs/VMVq2SZwjTI/AAAAAAAAAr8/PLFNvnR-jq4/s1600/DSC01868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tZKEUpmLZs/VMVq2SZwjTI/AAAAAAAAAr8/PLFNvnR-jq4/s1600/DSC01868.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I&nbsp;laid out those large left over triangles from my scrap box and determined what colors I needed to&nbsp;add for a good mix.&nbsp; I then pulled additional fabrics that would blend with the large triangles to use&nbsp;in the 9 patches.&nbsp; For some of the 9 patches I couldn't come up with good blender&nbsp;fabric&nbsp;so I used the same fabric as the corner.&nbsp; After making sure I had all the letters of the alphabet represented, I then cut the 3.5" squares for the 9 patches and the additional large triangles needed.&nbsp; I laid the pieces&nbsp;out on my design wall, played with the arrangement until I was happy with the&nbsp;balance and contrast, then labeled the triangles&nbsp;with the row and column flags.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI_UCHtKfVE/VMVqoc8wJKI/AAAAAAAAAqs/zOBuI2KrLxs/s1600/DSC01858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI_UCHtKfVE/VMVqoc8wJKI/AAAAAAAAAqs/zOBuI2KrLxs/s1600/DSC01858.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thinking I'd save this for the quilting retreat&nbsp;I packed everything away in a&nbsp;kit with my printed EQ sheet and notes.&nbsp; But as often happens I talked myself into not saving it.&nbsp;&nbsp; I decided that since the marked ruler was critical for the project, it made sense for me to go ahead and make this one at home.&nbsp; I didn't want to carry that large a ruler on the plane and take the risk of it getting damaged.&nbsp; Plus I really needed the design wall to help with the placement of the 9 patches.&nbsp; See, many reasons to make this one at home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I put everything back up on the design wall and started sewing.&nbsp; I put together the nine patches for each block first, then added the corner triangles, centering the point of the triangle over the center of the nine-patch.&nbsp; Since the edge of the triangle is on the bias, I added 3 pins, one in the center and one on each end.&nbsp; I had starched the triangles pretty heavily but I didn't want to take any chances.&nbsp; I decided to sew these with the bias piece down next to the bed of my machine to prevent the presser foot from stretching them.&nbsp;&nbsp;My machine does pretty good about sewing over pins if I go slowly, but I still made sure the pins didn't extend into the sewn seam.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SeuGX66aJgA/VMVqthY5QsI/AAAAAAAAArE/wNsg_5riqmI/s1600/DSC01861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SeuGX66aJgA/VMVqthY5QsI/AAAAAAAAArE/wNsg_5riqmI/s1600/DSC01861.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After sewing all four corner triangles to the 9-patch unit, I then trimmed the block to size.&nbsp; You can see in this picture that my 9-patch units weren't quite right but since I was trimming my block to size it wasn't critical.&nbsp; My seams when sewing the 9 patches were just a little little large, making the 9 patch smaller than the intended 9" finished.&nbsp; I should have tested before I sewed them all.&nbsp; On some of the blocks the point of the 9 patch won't be perfectly on the seam but for this pattern it won't be too distracting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8iNTBftykAo/VMVqqGHwYQI/AAAAAAAAAq0/WKSWAF0oNzw/s1600/DSC01859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8iNTBftykAo/VMVqqGHwYQI/AAAAAAAAAq0/WKSWAF0oNzw/s1600/DSC01859.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once all the blocks were sewn, I realized I really didn't want to sew them next to each other.&nbsp; All that fabric at the point of the 9 patch (center top, bottom, and each side) would make joining them difficult.&nbsp; Plus that would highlight that my sewing was a little off and matching those points wouldn't be fun either.&nbsp;&nbsp;So I decided I'd rather have sashing, everything much simpler.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsJAd8c2P_4/VMVq1EacYrI/AAAAAAAAAr0/FfGKuR8mwQ8/s1600/DSC01867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsJAd8c2P_4/VMVq1EacYrI/AAAAAAAAAr0/FfGKuR8mwQ8/s1600/DSC01867.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJSrbY5koRo/VMVqz2TBPBI/AAAAAAAAArs/eAYCrIJUHdg/s1600/DSC01866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJSrbY5koRo/VMVqz2TBPBI/AAAAAAAAArs/eAYCrIJUHdg/s1600/DSC01866.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Initially I had thought to use a simple sashing with no corner stones.&nbsp; Then I realized I had cut too many sashing strips the length of the blocks, so I&nbsp;added corner stones rather than throw them in the scrap bin.&nbsp; (Another unintended design decision).&nbsp; I started with some black multi-colored fabric for the cornerstones, but when I put the long strips on the design wall,&nbsp;it&nbsp;looked too much like spots and just didn't work well with the blocks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SYWtVnTeJE/VMVq3ley0DI/AAAAAAAAAsE/5o4vPNjuXtc/s1600/DSC01869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SYWtVnTeJE/VMVq3ley0DI/AAAAAAAAAsE/5o4vPNjuXtc/s1600/DSC01869.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br />I then tried using scraps from the blocks themselves in place of the black fabric corner stones.&nbsp; I like this version, &nbsp;less contrast and ties in with the blocks better.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XU_zPBuGnw/VMVq69gV8oI/AAAAAAAAAsc/zGN_WKqVfj8/s1600/DSC01871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XU_zPBuGnw/VMVq69gV8oI/AAAAAAAAAsc/zGN_WKqVfj8/s1600/DSC01871.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br />Now to go remove those black squares.&nbsp; Fortunately I checked&nbsp;the long sashing strips with the black corner stones before I sewed them to the blocks, so the ripping is minimal.&nbsp; Almost there!<br /><br />Well the little squares got pretty small by the time it was all sewn together, only 1".&nbsp; So you really can't see any figures.&nbsp; But I still think I made the best choice.&nbsp; And the&nbsp;intersections of the 9 patch units with the sashing don't float too terribly bad.&nbsp; Certainly not anything that detracts from this particular design.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jtps7Xg-z7Y/VMg1v68UJHI/AAAAAAAAAtg/ko45dLqSyUY/s1600/sniggles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jtps7Xg-z7Y/VMg1v68UJHI/AAAAAAAAAtg/ko45dLqSyUY/s1600/sniggles.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossroads to Jericho</td></tr></tbody></table>I don't know if I'll add any borders.&nbsp; For now this is going to stay a top as I don't know yet who the recipient will be.&nbsp; If it's to be a newborn I'll likely finish it as it is.&nbsp; For a toddler I'll add borders to make it a bit larger than the current 3'x4'.&nbsp; Overall I'm pretty pleased with this one.&nbsp; I like the colors and the balance.&nbsp; The pattern was relatively easy, not too fiddly, and I enjoyed sewing it.&nbsp; This one might get repeated at some point down the road.Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-34371833737350495022015-01-25T19:56:00.000-08:002015-01-25T19:56:18.329-08:00Fun with TrianglesTriangles are one way to add movement to a quilt and I've used them frequently in my quilts.&nbsp; Sometimes it's just adding lots of little triangles in the border in scrappy fabrics. &nbsp;Over the years I've tried several different methods and definitely have a couple that are my favorites.&nbsp; I tend to like things precise.&nbsp; As a result I lean towards sewing things bigger and trimming down.&nbsp;﻿<br />﻿﻿﻿<br />﻿For making lots of small triangles in scrappy fabrics, my favorite is&nbsp;a method called bias strip triangles.&nbsp; There are lots of you-tube videos out there so I won't explain in detail here, but the basic ideas is you cut bias strips and sew them together.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then cut out the triangles from that new strippy fabric.&nbsp; It is fabulous for lots and lots of little triangles, all perfectly square and no burned fingers from pressing little tiny pieces.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The only downside I've found with this method is figuring out exactly how much fabric you need for the number of HST wanted and how&nbsp;wide to cut the strips.&nbsp; The math gets a little complicated.&nbsp; Someone should write an Excel program to calculate that.&nbsp; Hmmmm.&nbsp; Anyway, &nbsp;I used this method for&nbsp;the half square triangles in the saw tooth border for the quilt below.&nbsp; This quilt is for the twin cousin whose brother&nbsp;received the attic window quilt shown in an earlier post, thus the more muted colors than my normal choices.﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTOdXZPHyLg/VMB7A-5dhiI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/CIZrtc6eCCo/s1600/friendship%2Bstars%2BJonathan's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTOdXZPHyLg/VMB7A-5dhiI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/CIZrtc6eCCo/s1600/friendship%2Bstars%2BJonathan%27s.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friendship Star<br />&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Most of the time when using triangles in novelty quilts, I&nbsp;need to add a corner to a novelty square as in a snowball block or the heart quilt shown previously.&nbsp; &nbsp;Early on in this quilting journey I used the method of cutting a square of background fabric and drawing a line across corner to corner.&nbsp; Then you sew on the line, and if you are really diligent, you sew again 1/2" away from the sewn line,&nbsp;creating an&nbsp;extra bonus triangle to cut away.&nbsp; That bonus triangle is generally very small.&nbsp; And you have lots of them that you get to open up and press.&nbsp; And probably trim because you didn't sew exactly 1/2" away.&nbsp; I used this method for many many quilts.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are several quilts where I used the bonus triangles as saw-tooth borders.&nbsp; Another is the Leaning Orange Stars posted earlier.<br /><br />﻿<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dXCeIIPlPR0/VMB6uNbjhtI/AAAAAAAAAec/7RszF91umH0/s1600/lattice%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dXCeIIPlPR0/VMB6uNbjhtI/AAAAAAAAAec/7RszF91umH0/s1600/lattice%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trellis Novelty</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mw0_BjEQMUE/VMB6YrlLtiI/AAAAAAAAAcg/dF2WeYVhcs4/s1600/large%2Bpinwheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mw0_BjEQMUE/VMB6YrlLtiI/AAAAAAAAAcg/dF2WeYVhcs4/s1600/large%2Bpinwheels.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisting Squares - idea from Lynn on about.com (latterby1)</td></tr></tbody></table>There are a couple things I don't like with this method.&nbsp; First it uses up a lot of background fabric.&nbsp; Yes, you get bonus HST, but I was getting over-run by the things (more on that later).&nbsp; And I got tired of sewing that extra line every time, though I felt obligated.&nbsp; Plus I found I wasn't good at drawing that line corner to corner.&nbsp; When I folded the fabric over to see if I had sewn the triangle correctly, I discovered that my corners didn't meet a good part of the time and the block was no longer square.&nbsp; Now I had to re-sew (yuck) or else live with it and hope it didn't mess up the construction of the block down the road.&nbsp; <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuhCDNe9v68/VMW3UtsQ5EI/AAAAAAAAAtE/NN0g3c2xcSc/s1600/DSC01850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuhCDNe9v68/VMW3UtsQ5EI/AAAAAAAAAtE/NN0g3c2xcSc/s1600/DSC01850.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>A couple of years ago I discovered a nifty ruler at a quilt show demo.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's called a Perfect Corner Ruler.&nbsp; Again there are on-line demos so I'll just explain briefly.&nbsp; The big different is you draw the diagonal sewing line (using the ruler) directly on your base fabric.&nbsp; You then add an oversized triangle of the background fabric large enough to fold over and cover the background fabric.&nbsp; The size to cut is shown in a little table printed on the ruler.&nbsp; You then trim the block to size after folding the sewn triangle over, so it is "perfect".&nbsp;I know my obsessive side is showing here.&nbsp; And yes, you still have 1 cut triangle left over from the novelty fabric, but I'm using a lot less background fabric.&nbsp;&nbsp;I know there are lots of different ways to accomplish the same things and everyone has their preferences.&nbsp; But I'm sold on this ruler.&nbsp; I haven't done the square thing since I discovered it.<br /><br />And speaking of over-run by tiny HSTs, here is my attempt to tame them.&nbsp; The idea was from a quilting magazine subscription flyer, so I'm not sure who to credit.&nbsp; I don't know that I'll ever give this one away just because it took so long to piece and I don't think anyone else would ever appreciate the effort.&nbsp; I still have baggies full of purple and dotted white, orange and dotted white, yellow and blue TOT, and orange and novelty.&nbsp; Let me know if you are interested!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6EKOFUPeUhI/VMB74Y3TeoI/AAAAAAAAAlE/2lutZd_VNNI/s1600/Tiny%2BTriangles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6EKOFUPeUhI/VMB74Y3TeoI/AAAAAAAAAlE/2lutZd_VNNI/s1600/Tiny%2BTriangles.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triangle Madness</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209086758538585317.post-63714410506171541102015-01-21T21:10:00.000-08:002015-01-21T21:10:13.945-08:00A Few Happy Faces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of the focus of this blog has tended to be a little negative.&nbsp; Partly I think because as I look back at some of the quilts made I am looking at them through the lenses of time and experience.&nbsp; I see the things that could have been improved.&nbsp; I'm thinking what I would do differently now that I'm definitely older and hopefully a better quilter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I have enjoyed making them all and enjoyed giving them away.&nbsp; And really really enjoyed hearing about how much they are loved.&nbsp; For the last several years when I give a quilt as a gift I've asked for a picture of the recipient with the quilt to put in my quilt scrapbook.&nbsp; Many of the parents have obliged me.&nbsp; As I've been looking through the pictures of the quilts, I've also been looking at these pictures of my quilts and their new owners.&nbsp; And they make me smile.&nbsp;&nbsp; A LOT!&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are a few that&nbsp;I think will make you smile too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIBOlzk4toY/VMB8eduzVZI/AAAAAAAAAl8/T-i3cGc3YtI/s1600/Mason's%2BI%2Bspy%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIBOlzk4toY/VMB8eduzVZI/AAAAAAAAAl8/T-i3cGc3YtI/s1600/Mason%27s%2BI%2Bspy%2B2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iQ2FNRkQzI/VMB8iI_Wf2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/E3e8Coix0X4/s1600/road%2Bquilt%2Band%2Bcousins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iQ2FNRkQzI/VMB8iI_Wf2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/E3e8Coix0X4/s1600/road%2Bquilt%2Band%2Bcousins.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESAcJACHITM/VMB8jWvegBI/AAAAAAAAAmc/_-1GyYahNvo/s1600/Scott's%2Bkids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESAcJACHITM/VMB8jWvegBI/AAAAAAAAAmc/_-1GyYahNvo/s1600/Scott%27s%2Bkids.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FBdS7YNVSs/VMB8sCRgq3I/AAAAAAAAAnk/zkMhIjBr4oo/s1600/Little%2BCross.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FBdS7YNVSs/VMB8sCRgq3I/AAAAAAAAAnk/zkMhIjBr4oo/s1600/Little%2BCross.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rTfmkNLPESw/VMB8td7V-BI/AAAAAAAAAnw/re7iqeYjhUI/s1600/Beckett%2Bwith%2BI%2Bspy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rTfmkNLPESw/VMB8td7V-BI/AAAAAAAAAnw/re7iqeYjhUI/s1600/Beckett%2Bwith%2BI%2Bspy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6mCtJz6QnqI/VMB8uFxvGlI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Mh9mKXPFy-Y/s1600/Kim%2BTritt's%2Bquilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6mCtJz6QnqI/VMB8uFxvGlI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Mh9mKXPFy-Y/s1600/Kim%2BTritt%27s%2Bquilt.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ysNGq7A2rP8/VMB8u9XPBZI/AAAAAAAAAqg/ntzjjhn1Tv8/s1600/IMG_1239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ysNGq7A2rP8/VMB8u9XPBZI/AAAAAAAAAqg/ntzjjhn1Tv8/s1600/IMG_1239.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOhDxCJFyxI/VMB8wl6WrRI/AAAAAAAAAqY/N1fJnfoStyI/s1600/IMG_6842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOhDxCJFyxI/VMB8wl6WrRI/AAAAAAAAAqY/N1fJnfoStyI/s1600/IMG_6842.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQF3kKPLamA/VMB8vyEvFII/AAAAAAAAAoI/JUmUXxf1TJM/s1600/Hanley%2BBaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQF3kKPLamA/VMB8vyEvFII/AAAAAAAAAoI/JUmUXxf1TJM/s1600/Hanley%2BBaby.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3qJo7PnTbE/VMB85Rqcu4I/AAAAAAAAApU/n-U8ZDgnyX4/s1600/Scarlet%2BWaldron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3qJo7PnTbE/VMB85Rqcu4I/AAAAAAAAApU/n-U8ZDgnyX4/s1600/Scarlet%2BWaldron.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vWZV9i-lpCU/VMCC9ukOmhI/AAAAAAAAAqA/1tG3oTW7CBc/s1600/10433127_10153022722984709_6852633001308607019_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vWZV9i-lpCU/VMCC9ukOmhI/AAAAAAAAAqA/1tG3oTW7CBc/s1600/10433127_10153022722984709_6852633001308607019_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What sweet little ones!&nbsp; Hope you enjoyed.&nbsp; I did.</div><br />Dee Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14952442158215676602noreply@blogger.com0